Although the Buccaneers demoted QB Byron Leftwich in favor of second-year pro Josh Johnson, the team won’t release the veteran, general manager Mark Dominik said.

Three games into the season, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are making a change at quarterback, as Josh Johnson was named the team’s starter on Monday over veteran Byron Leftwich.

Every week we will highlight the great performances that didn’t make NFL Total Access. These are the guys who do the grunt work.

No shortage of experienced (and not so experienced) quarterbacks available, and plenty of teams in need.

Tampa Bay’s move to fire offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski is more surprising to me than the removal of offensive coordinator Chan Gailey in Kansas City this week, given how recently Jagodzinski was hired and the fact he came in with a new regime.

Having had a chance to see a fair bit of the all-important preseason Week 3 games out there, here are a few things that caught my attention.

With Byron Leftwich now named the starting QB, as expected, if the Bucs can’t find a deal for Luke McCown, look for them to open the season with four passers, according to a team source.

Byron Leftwich has been named Tampa Bay’s starting quarterback, winning the job over Luke McCown, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris notified both players of his anticipated decision Saturday morning.

The Packers are concerned enough about their backup quarterback spot that they could get involved in trade talks with the Buccaneers, who are shopping Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown and Josh Johnson.

There is no mystery with how Tampa Bay will use first-round quarterback Josh Freeman. He’s the backup. But for how long?

The Buccaneers have four quarterbacks vying for three jobs. The only one not on the trading block right now is first-round draft pick Josh Freeman.

The Chiefs are willing to deal backup QB Tyler Thigpen to the Jaguars, but the teams haven’t been able to agree on draft-pick compensation.

The Buccaneers have been contacting other teams this week to gauge interest in their quarterbacks after putting off a decision to name a starter, according to league sources.

Bucs coach Raheem Morris said Monday that both Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown will get equal time in Thursday’s third preseason game as the team’s QB competition gets one final look.

Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris had initially set a self-imposed deadline — following the team’s second preseason game — to pick a starting quarterback, but earlier today told the media he may put the decision off for another week. It turns out he has.