The Tampa Bay Buccaneers got a glimpse of what Jalon Daniels can do, and they also got the growing pains that come with handing the offense to an undrafted rookie in his first NFL start.
Daniels nearly pulled it off. Tampa fell at home to the Green Bay Packers, 17-14, and the loss pushed the Bucs to 0-4 in what is quickly becoming a lost season. Still, the rookie quarterback made enough plays to keep the game alive deep into the fourth quarter.
Daniels, who went undrafted, became the first rookie QB to start a game this season. Tampa tried to make life easier on him by leaning on the run game and asking him to work mostly on short, low-risk throws. That approach helped keep things manageable, but it also left Daniels to navigate the usual first-start mistakes that come with the territory.
The stat line tells part of the story: Daniels finished 19-for-27 for 148 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. But the numbers don’t capture the poise he showed, the arm strength he flashed, or the damage he did as a runner. He carried the ball eight times for 55 yards, including a 21-yard burst on a third-and-2.
His best stretch came on a 12-play, 84-yard drive that ended with the first touchdown of his career, a 10-yard pass to running back Kenny Gainwell. That score pulled Tampa within three at 17-14 very early in the fourth quarter, and it ended up being the final points for either team.
Daniels settled in as the game went on, but both interceptions came in the first half while he was still finding his rhythm. There was also a botched snap with center Graham Barton on a third-and-13 from the Tampa 12. Daniels recovered the ball, but the play was finished with him getting tackled back at the one.
Even after that, Tampa had one more opening. Jacob Parrish intercepted Jordan Love, giving Daniels and the offense a chance to put together a tying field goal drive or maybe steal the win. Daniels moved the Bucs into Packers territory before a fourth-down pass was initially ruled an interception and then incomplete.
So the ending was painful, but the larger takeaway was clear: Daniels came close to leading an upset, and he didn’t look overwhelmed doing it. He matched offensive coordinator Zac Robinson’s guarantee that he would not be scared, and for Tampa, that may be one of the few encouraging notes in a 0-4 start.
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 🡒]