Jalon Daniels got a game he’ll probably remember forever on Sunday, and it had nothing to do with the final score.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup quarterback, who has spent the past few months turning a long-shot chance into a real NFL story, came away from the Steelers game with a jersey swap he’ll never forget: Aaron Rodgers gave him one, and then asked for Daniels’ in return.
That kind of moment feels fitting for a player who has already packed a lot into a short stretch. Daniels arrived in Tampa Bay as an undrafted rookie free agent, opened training camp as the team’s QB4, and was simply trying to do enough to stick around on the practice squad. Instead, he climbed past Connor Bazelak and Jake Browning in a matter of weeks and won the backup job behind Baker Mayfield.
Then the opportunity got even bigger. After Mayfield suffered a dislocated thumb late in Week 3, Daniels was pushed into the starting lineup for the next three games.
He was uneven in his first start, but he held his own. In Week 5, under the lights on Thursday Night Football in Dallas, Daniels looked terrific and picked up his first career win, which also gave Tampa Bay its first win of 2026.
Week 6 was a much harsher ending. Daniels threw two painful fourth-quarter interceptions as the Buccaneers coughed up a 16-3 lead and fell 26-19 in overtime to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The loss dropped Tampa Bay to 1-5 and brought a rough dose of reality for the rookie.
Even so, it also delivered a personal highlight.
Daniels met Rodgers, his idol, after the game and ended up swapping jerseys with the 42-year-old future Hall of Famer in a moment that was caught on camera. Daniels described how it unfolded with Laine:
"I mean, it was kind of crazy. So, just kind of ... without trying to completely ask that -- I don't want to be that guy -- and he was just like, 'I know exactly what you're getting at.
I'll give you the jersey.' And then I'm like, 'All right man, thank you.'"
The surprise came next.
"[I] was about to walk away and he was like, 'Wait, hold on. Can I get yours?' Now, that's kind of what caught me by surprise."
Rodgers also had praise for the rookie on the CBS broadcast, saying, "I appreciate the respect," Rodgers said of Daniels on the CBS broadcast. "Super respectful guy.
I like his game. I like the way he throws it.
Obviously, super talented with his feet. I'm excited to see how he develops.
Learning behind a guy who's played a long time like Baker is obviously going to be great for him."
For Daniels, it was a special moment inside a frustrating day.
In Other News...
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The next week could say a lot about how the Buccaneers view the rest of this season, and not just because of what happens on the field against Carolina. Tampa Bay is sitting at 1-5, yet still technically alive in the NFC South race, which puts a real spotlight on the game and the front offices appetite for patience heading toward the November 10 trade deadline.
If things go badly on Sunday, the conversation around the roster may shift quickly from chasing a division title to weighing veteran value. ESPNs Jeremy Fowler has pointed to the possibility of Tampa Bay becoming a seller in the right circumstances, with names like Chris Godwin, Kenneth Gainwell and Vita Vea already surfacing in the discussion, though no move has been made. For a team that still has postseason hope, the stakes feel unusually split between the scoreboard and the trade market. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Just Caught A Huge Break For Baker Mayfield In Week 7
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Phillips had already sat out the Panthers three practices leading into the game, and Carolinas final injury report offered more uncertainty beyond him. Thomas Incoom is also set to miss the matchup with a calf injury, leaving the Panthers thinner up front than they would prefer as they try to slow down Tampa Bay. [Read more 🡒]
Bucs Suddenly Face A Week 7 Roster Crunch Vs Panthers
The Buccaneers are heading into Week 7 with some extra juggling to do, and linebacker Caden Fordham is back in the mix after being elevated from the practice squad. The rookie undrafted free agent out of North Carolina State already got a look in Week 4, and his role again should be centered mostly on special teams as Tampa Bay adjusts its depth for the Panthers.
Christian Rozebooms move to injured reserve opened the door for Fordham, leaving the Bucs to cover another spot in the front seven while also dealing with more absences elsewhere on the roster. Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka and right tackle Luke Goedeke have both been ruled out, while David Sills III was activated off injured reserve in a corresponding move, giving Tampa Bay a little more flexibility as it tries to patch together the right mix for Sunday. [Read more 🡒]