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Bucs elevate Easton Stick to be backup QB vs. Packers

By Thomson Reuters Oct 3, 2026 | 3:58 PM

By Field Level Media

Oct 03 (Field Level Media) – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers elevated Easton Stick off the practice squad Saturday to ​be their backup quarterback for Sunday’s home ‌game against the Green Bay Packers.

Stick will serve as the No. 2 quarterback behind Jalon Daniels, an undrafted rookie from Kansas making his first career start. Regular ‌starter ​Baker Mayfield is sidelined with ⁠a dislocated thumb on ⁠his throwing hand.

Stick, 31, was signed to the Buccaneers’ practice squad on Sept. 1. He has played in six NFL games, all for ​the Los Angeles Chargers, and passed for 1,133 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

Stick went ⁠0-4 as a starter ⁠for the Chargers in 2023 when ​Justin Herbert was injured. He was with the Chargers ​from 2019-24 and was a member of ‌the Atlanta Falcons in 2025.

Tampa Bay signed veteran Brett Rypien to its practice squad on Wednesday to give the club another option while Mayfield ⁠is sidelined. Mayfield is expected to miss three games.

Rypien, 30, has played in 11 NFL games (four starts) with ⁠the Denver ‌Broncos (2020-22), Los Angeles Rams (2023) and Cincinnati ⁠Bengals (2025). He has completed 58.3% of ​his ‌passes for 950 yards, four touchdowns ​and nine ⁠interceptions.

The Buccaneers also elevated linebacker Caden Fordham from the practice squad to the 53-man roster for Sunday’s game. It would be the rookie’s first career game if he makes it on the field.

(–Field ​Level Media)