Jalon Daniels didn’t just help the Buccaneers beat the Cowboys on Thursday night. He stamped his name into the NFL record book while doing it.
In Tampa Bay’s 24-16 win over Dallas, the undrafted rookie quarterback became the first player since quarterback starts began being tracked in 1950 to do three things in each of his first two NFL starts: complete at least 70% of his passes, throw a touchdown pass, and rush for 20 or more yards.
That kind of start is rare enough for any quarterback. For an undrafted one, it stands out even more.
Daniels backed up the milestone with another sharp outing against Dallas, finishing 25 of 29 for 189 yards and a touchdown. He also added seven carries for 23 yards on the ground as the Buccaneers picked up their first win of the season.
His first NFL start came the week before against the Green Bay Packers, and even in a 17-14 loss, Daniels flashed the same dual-threat impact. He completed 19 of 27 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown, while running for 55 yards.
Taken together, the two games have put Daniels in unusual company and given Tampa Bay something to build on after a rough opening to the season.
The opportunity has opened up because Baker Mayfield has been sidelined with a dislocated thumb. Mayfield has missed the last two games and is expected to miss a third straight week, though a return could come soon after that.
For now, Daniels has made the most of his chance. Thursday’s result moved the Buccaneers to 1-4, and they’ll try to keep the momentum going when they host the Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday.
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There have still been a few encouraging snaps and plays along the way, but the broader picture is hard to miss when compared with what he did a year ago. Egbuka has not matched the same burst, the same impact on chunk gains, or the same consistency that made him such a promising piece of Tampa Bays receiver group, and until that changes, his role in the offense will keep drawing attention for all the wrong reasons. [Read more 🡒]