The Buccaneers looked sunk after the 0-3 start, then Baker Mayfield’s injury shoved an undrafted rookie into the spotlight. Jalon Daniels didn’t exactly walk into that pressure and light it up in his first start, but the early returns now point in a more encouraging direction.
Daniels’ first crack came in Week 4 against the Green Bay Packers, and it was a messy one. He finished with 19 completions for 148 yards and a touchdown, but the two interceptions and three sacks dragged his passing EPA to -0.194. EPA, or expected points added, tracks how much a play helps or hurts a team’s chance to score, and that number painted the picture of a quarterback still learning on the job.
One game later, the story shifted. Against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday Night Football, Daniels posted a positive +0.229 EPA, completed 76% of his passes for 189 yards, threw for one touchdown, and avoided turnovers.
He was sacked just once. That kind of cleaner operation matters, especially for a young quarterback who is still trying to settle in.
The jump wasn’t only about Daniels tightening things up. It was also about how offensive coordinator Zac Robinson is using him.
Through both games, Daniels has kept a high completion rate, but the average depth of target has stayed extremely low at 4.1 yards. That approach didn’t pay off as well against Green Bay, but it worked against Dallas and showed Robinson is leaning into a safer, higher-percentage passing game.
That setup has helped Daniels get the ball out quickly to playmakers instead of forcing him to carry too much of the load himself. He has also been efficient as a runner, which adds another layer to his game as he keeps building in Mayfield’s absence.
Daniels still isn’t pushing the ball downfield, but the upward trend is clear. If that continues, Robinson and the staff may start feeling more comfortable opening things up. And if Daniels keeps making the most of the chance in front of him, Tampa Bay might be able to steal a game or two while Mayfield works back.
For now, the biggest takeaway is simple: an undrafted rookie is giving the Bucs a real chance to stay afloat, and that could be enough to keep them in the NFC South race if Daniels keeps trending in the right direction over the next week or two.
In Other News...
Buccaneers Are Stuck In A Debate Fans Know Too Well
A familiar kind of unease has settled over Tampa Bay after the Buccaneers stumbled to a 1-4 start in 2026, the sort of opening that tends to drag old questions back into the conversation. This is a franchise that has lived through plenty of extremes over the years, from lean stretches to the high points of Super Bowl runs under Tony Dungy, Jon Gruden and, more recently, Tom Brady, so the mood around the team can turn quickly when the results do.
Todd Bowles has kept insisting there is still time for the season to swing back in the right direction, and that optimism is part of what makes the current debate so recognizable for Buccaneers fans. The frustration is real, both in the locker room and in the stands, but so is the sense that this team has seen enough swings before to know the story is not fully written yet. [Read more 🡒]
Baker Mayfield's Push To Return Has Bucs Fans Watching One Thing
Baker Mayfields recovery from a dislocated thumb has become one of the bigger watch items around the Buccaneers this week, with his status for Tampa Bays Week 6 matchup against the Steelers still unsettled. Todd Bowles has said he expects rookie Jalon Daniels to start again if Mayfield cannot go, which leaves the Bucs preparing as if they may need to ride with the young quarterback for a third straight game.
Mayfield is reportedly pushing to return sooner than originally anticipated, but the final call will come down to the medical staff and how the thumb responds as he heals. The real test is whether he can handle the football without pain and get the grip he needs to operate normally, and until that happens, Tampa Bay is stuck waiting on the most basic question of all: whether its starter is ready. [Read more 🡒]
Buccaneers Face A Risky Baker Mayfield Decision Against Pittsburgh
Baker Mayfields status has become one of the more delicate decisions facing Tampa Bay as it weighs whether to bring its quarterback back for the Steelers. Mayfield is still working his way back from the dislocated thumb he suffered in Week 3, and the Buccaneers have at least seen a capable stopgap in Jalon Daniels, who steadied the offense well enough to help them pick up their first win of the season.
The problem is the balance between urgency and caution. Rushing Mayfield back could leave Tampa Bay vulnerable if the thumb is not ready for full game action, yet sticking with the current setup raises its own questions about how much the offense can grow without its starter. With Pittsburgh on deck, the Buccaneers are in the awkward spot of trying to protect both their quarterback and their momentum at the same time. [Read more 🡒]