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Steelers drop 17-14 verdict to the Buccaneers

PITTSBURGH (AP) — For a high school football coach, Teddy Bridgewater can still sling it.

The well-traveled Bridgewater threw for a pair of first-quarter touchdowns in Tampa Bay’s 17-14 preseason win over Pittsburgh on Saturday night, thrusting himself into the competition with Kyle Trask to be Baker Mayfield’s backup in the process.

While Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles isn’t quite ready to say whether there’s now a choice to be made between Bridgewater and Trask, Bridgewater’s performance less than two weeks after signing provided pretty compelling evidence that there’s still plenty left in the 32-year-old’s right arm.

Bridgewater, who joined the Buccaneers last week after being suspended from his high school coaching job in Miami for self-reporting that he provided financial benefits to his players, was sharp in his three series of work.

He completed 6 of 11 passes for 85 yards, hitting Bucky Irving for a 15-yard touchdown and later delivering a pretty 5-yard lob to the back corner of the end zone that rookie first-round pick Emeka Egbuka pulled in with a sliding grab from his knees.

While Mayfield is firmly entrenched as the starter, Bridgewater looked capable while playing against a Pittsburgh defense that sat most of its key contributors, though he brushed aside the notion that he’s looking to rise to No. 2 on the depth chart.

“I’m just here to help this team in every way possible,” said Bridgewater, who made it a point to give a shoutout to Northwestern High in Miami after a victory of its own this weekend. “I’ve been a humble servant throughout my career, playing and coaching.”

Chase McLaughlin hit a 42-yard field goal as time expired to win it for the Buccaneers (2-0). Tampa Bay linebacker Antonio Grier’s 36-yard interception return — the Buccaneers’ sixth pick in two weeks — set up the kick.

A step forward

Two days after a spirited joint practice in which nearly everyone — from Mayfield and wide receiver Mike Evans to Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and All-Pro linebacker T.J. Watt — participated, the spotlight shifted to younger players who will have an opportunity to make an impact on two veteran clubs that have been postseason regulars.

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