Todd Bowles isn’t going to yank the plug after one rough debut. The Buccaneers coach confirmed that Jalon Daniels will start again, and the next chance comes on the road in Dallas.
That decision comes after Daniels stepped in for the injured Baker Mayfield in Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers. The undrafted rookie finished 19 of 27 for 148 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions, then added 55 rushing yards on eight carries. The line had both the flashes and the mistakes that usually come with a first NFL start.
Bowles didn’t hide from that reality, but he also made clear he believes in the rookie. Daniels, a dual-threat quarterback from his Kansas days, is still getting his footing at the highest level, and Bowles said the moment was simply part of the process.
“No matter where you come from,” Bowles said, “your first NFL game has to happen at some point.”
Daniels had his own read on the day after the game. He said both interceptions came with the right coverage diagnosis, but not the right throw.
“That’s the frustrating part,” he said, “knowing you read the coverage right, but you failed to execute.”
He also said he felt comfortable from the opening snap, which is a good sign for Tampa Bay as it tries to stabilize the position.
For now, Daniels is the man under center, even if the depth chart behind him gives the Buccaneers some options. Easton Stick is on the roster as a veteran with six NFL starts, and Tampa Bay could also explore the trade market for another backup, including Pittsburgh’s Mason Rudolph or someone else available.
The immediate challenge is Dallas, and the Cowboys’ defense has left plenty of room for an offense to breathe. Dallas beat the Houston Texans, but it also allowed 30 points in that game.
That follows a season in which the Cowboys surrendered a league-worst 511 points. They spent the offseason reworking that unit and recently dealt with the Pittsburgh Steelers for cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but the results have still been shaky.
Dallas is allowing 27.3 points per game, and its 82 points allowed were the 10th most in the league as of early Sunday.
That gives Tampa Bay a clear opening. Even before Mayfield went down, the Buccaneers weren’t putting up much offense. Now they head into Dallas with a rookie quarterback, a struggling attack, and a defense that looks vulnerable enough to keep the door open.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Suddenly Face A Bigger Baker Mayfield Problem Than Expected
Baker Mayfields thumb injury has turned into a much bigger issue for the Buccaneers than a short-term scare. The veteran quarterback suffered a dislocated thumb and is expected to miss multiple games, with his return hinging on how quickly he regains grip strength. For Tampa Bay, the timing is especially tricky because Mayfield had been in the middle of another season as the teams starter after appearing in three games so far.
The immediate answer is rookie Jalon Daniels, who has been named the backup and will start while Mayfield is out. It puts an abrupt spotlight on Tampa Bays quarterback depth and raises the stakes around how the offense functions without the player the Buccaneers signed to a multi-year deal. The bigger question now is not just who starts next, but how long the team has to live without Mayfield and what kind of shape he is in when he finally returns. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fan Goes Viral For A Gameday Moment Bucs Fans Pounced On
A gameday photo from the Packers-Buccaneers matchup quickly took on a life of its own, with a Green Bay fan in a cheese-themed outfit drawing plenty of attention on social media. Buccaneers fans, already tuned into a rough start for their own team, jumped on the image and helped turn a random moment from the stands into one of the evenings louder online talking points.
It fit the mood around Tampa Bay, where the Bucs came in at 0-3 and were turning to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels at quarterback because of Baker Mayfields injury. Green Bay arrived at 1-2, but the game was about more than the records for Tampa Bay supporters, who had little patience to spare and plenty of time to notice, and react to, anything that stood out. [Read more 🡒]
Todd Bowles Just Became The Center Of Tampa Bay's Biggest Debate
The Buccaneers slow start has pushed Todd Bowles into the middle of a conversation nobody in Tampa Bay wanted to have this early. At 0-4, with a 3-12 record stretching back to last season, the losses are piling up fast enough to turn every miscue into a referendum on direction, execution and leadership. Bowles stepped to the podium after the latest setback and owned the mess, taking responsibility while insisting he still believes he can guide the team out of it.
Bowles has handled the public side of the slump the way a veteran coach usually does, but the frustration around the team is only growing because so many of the defeats have stayed within reach. Close games tend to sharpen the focus on the head coach, and if the Buccaneers keep coming up short in those spots, the accountability debate will only get louder. For now, Bowles is asking for patience, even as the results make that a harder sell by the week. [Read more 🡒]