It looks like Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield will get his first taste of preseason action since 2024 when the team hosts the Kansas City Chiefs Saturday night.

Per Jenna Laine of ESPN, Bucs head coach Todd Bowles disclosed that Mayfield will indeed play on Saturday. Mayfield didn't play at all in the preseason last year and only saw action in one exhibition game in 2024, throwing three passes.

Bowles wants his starting QB to get a couple of drives in on Saturday. Tampa will likely be treating the game against the Chiefs as the "dress rehearsal" for the regular season. Bowles also revealed that any Bucs starters healthy enough to play will see some action on Saturday.

That likely includes Mayfield's backup, Jake Browning. Browning, who missed Tampa's preseason opener against the New York Jets because of a back injury, returned to practice on Monday.

Is the news that Mayfield will be playing against the Chiefs a positive development for quarterback Jalon Daniels? Daniels was the star of the offense against the Jets and thoroughly outplayed Connor Bazelak, who started and played the entire first half.

With both Mayfield and Browning playing on Saturday, Daniels or Bazelak will not see as much playing time as they did last Friday.

Could the decrease in playing time possibly be a sign that Daniels has already shown enough to earn a spot on the 53-man roster? After Saturday's game against Kansas City, there will only be one preseason game remaining.

It is almost certain that Tampa's starters won't play in the preseason finale, so maybe Bowles and general manager Jason Licht are reserving judgment on Daniels until they see him play against the Jacksonville Jaguars. 

Hopefully, Mayfield can lead the Bucs on a touchdown drive and call it a night. Players are getting injured all over the league during these preseason games, and a serious injury to Mayfield could derail Tampa's season before it even begins.

We shouldn't expect to see Mayfield out there for any more than two drives, no matter how successful or unsuccessful they may be. If he can lead his team to points on the first drive, his night will likely be over.

It is unclear how much Browning will play, but the team may want to get an extended look at him after he missed the first game. It's possible Browning will take the reins until halftime, before ceding to Daniels and Bazelak. I wouldn't expect Browning to play in the last preseason game, as his role as QB2 is likely etched in stone.

The Bucs are under enormous pressure to succeed this season. With Bowles beginning the season on the hot seat, it is imperative that the team gets off to a fast start, or he may not make it to the finish line.

Having Mayfield and the other starters get some work in should make them a bit crisper at the beginning of the season. 

Let's just hope the Bucs can make it out of Saturday's game healthy.