Former Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels is making a fast case for himself in Tampa Bay.
Daniels helped the Buccaneers erase a halftime deficit and pull out a 16-15 win over the Kansas City Chiefs in their second preseason game Saturday night in Tampa Bay. After the Bucs went into the break down 9-0, Daniels settled in and delivered in the second half, finishing 9 of 14 for 71 yards and a touchdown. He also added 19 rushing yards on seven carries and guided three scoring drives to help flip the game.
That followed another strong outing in Tampa Bay’s preseason opener, a 24-16 win over the New York Jets, when Daniels went 10 of 15 for 111 passing yards.
Those back-to-back performances have pushed the undrafted rookie into the conversation for the No. 2 quarterback job behind Baker Mayfield, and plenty of Buccaneers fans already seem convinced the race is over.
Daniels’ rise is especially notable because he went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft earlier this year. For players in that spot, training camp and preseason often become the entire audition, and Daniels is taking full advantage of his chances.
At Kansas, he was the kind of player fans gravitated toward immediately. His personality, energy and steady leadership made him an easy favorite in Lawrence, and he represented KU football well on and off the field during his six years there.
He also left behind plenty of memorable moments for Jayhawk fans, and that support figures to follow him as he keeps pushing for a roster spot in the NFL.
Daniels will have one more chance to make his case when the Buccaneers travel to Jacksonville to face the Jaguars in their final preseason game Friday, Aug. 28.
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Missouris Opener Just Got More Complicated For A Kansas Rival Watch
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Eli Drinkwitz said Hardy has not yet finished the required two weeks of full-speed practice before he can return to game action, which pushes the timeline back at least a little longer. In the meantime, senior Jamal Roberts is set to handle the primary running back duties, giving Missouri a veteran option while one of its key pieces works his way back into shape. [Read more 🡒]