The Buccaneers didn’t need Baker Mayfield or Jake Browning to open their preseason with a win. They got steady work from Connor Bazelak, a burst of life from Jalon Daniels, and a 24-13 victory over the New York Jets that gave Tampa Bay something useful to study.
Browning was supposed to start, but a back issue from Tuesday’s joint practice kept him out. That pushed Bazelak into the first snaps of the night, and the third-string quarterback handled the job with a calm hand. He went 12 of 20 for 72 yards, worked the offense without looking rushed, and helped Tampa Bay stay on schedule early.
One of the better chances of the first half came on Tampa Bay’s third drive, when Bazelak came close to hitting third-round pick Ted Hurst III for a touchdown. Jets rookie Mory Bamba blew up the play at the goal line, knocking the ball loose in the end zone. The Bucs still came away with a 23-yard Chase McLaughlin field goal and took a 10-6 lead.
The second half belonged to Daniels. He took over for the opening series after halftime and immediately changed the pace of the offense.
His first drive ended with Josh Williams punching in a 12-yard touchdown run, and Tampa Bay stretched the lead to 17-13. Daniels kept stacking good moments from there, finishing 10 of 15 for 111 yards while adding nine rushing yards and a one-yard touchdown with 3:24 left.
The former Kansas standout looked sharp in rhythm and comfortable when the field tightened up near the end zone. Todd Bowles liked what he saw.
“He was calm under pressure and he let the system work for him, as opposed to just trying to make a play and be seen,” Bowles said. “He did some very good things tonight from a poise standpoint.”
Bamba had his own moment in the spotlight for New York. He broke up the near touchdown to Hurst, finished with four passes defensed, then briefly left in the third quarter to be checked for a head injury before returning in the fourth and continuing to attack the ball in coverage.
Tampa Bay’s next preseason stop comes at home against the Kansas City Chiefs on August 22, with Daniels and Bazelak both expected to keep getting chances as the Buccaneers sort through their quarterback depth.
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