The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are already staring down a brutal 0-3 hole, and now they’re set to face the Green Bay Packers with an undrafted rookie quarterback making his first franchise start. Jalon Daniels, a Kansas grad, went from earning the backup job with a solid training camp to being thrust into the spotlight because Baker Mayfield is sidelined for at least three games with a dislocated thumb. This dude is living a lifelong dream, telling reporters Wednesday, “I don’t even know if I can put it into words. I mean, I’ve continued to say it’s a dream come true to even play for an NFL organization. To be able to go out there and have my first NFL career start, it means everything.” Talk about a trial by fire, right?
The Weight of the World on a Rookie’s Shoulders? Not if His Teammates Have Anything to Say About It
It’s an unbelievable situation for Daniels, who’ll be the first Kansas quarterback to start an NFL game since way back in 1987. Last Sunday, he got his first taste of NFL action, throwing three passes at the end of the loss to the Minnesota Vikings. That’s as many as all Buccaneers undrafted rookie QBs combined, ever, with Scott Milanovich throwing three in 1996. The odds are stacked against him, no doubt, especially considering the Bucs have struggled big time in their three losses. But his teammates are stepping up, making it clear they’ve got his back. Receiver Chris Godwin put it perfectly: “Honestly, I think you have to put yourself in his shoes. Your first game for a young guy is nerve-wracking as it is, let alone being a quarterback, stepping into this situation.” Godwin knows the deal, saying the plan is to “get behind him, support him, let him know we have his back.” The goal is to give Daniels the freedom to play without feeling like he has to carry the whole squad.
Todd Bowles’ Hot Seat and the $25,000 Gamble
The stakes here are huge, and it’s not just for Daniels. Coach Todd Bowles is on the hot seat, maybe more than any other coach in the league, with a dismal record of three wins in his last 14 games. He’s trying to take some of the pressure off his rookie, saying, “He is not playing by himself. Everybody has to do their job.” Bowles emphasized that they have “21 other guys that [are] going to be out there playing with him.” It’s a nervous but exciting time, seeing a young guy get his shot. You have to wonder, though, if the Buccaneers couldn’t get a win in three tries with Mayfield, who just got a $165 million extension, how are they going to pull it off with a rookie they signed for a $25,000 bonus? Daniels played six years at Kansas and was a good but “rarely great” college passer. His teammates know what’s up, saying, “We know what we can do. So try to give him the freedom to play as free as possible. You’re going to make mistakes. We all do. So just alleviate that pressure off his shoulders that he doesn’t have to go out and try to win the game himself.”
This Sunday, Jalon Daniels faces the Green Bay Packers in a situation that could truly define the Bucs’ early season and maybe even Todd Bowles’ future. It’s a massive moment for a kid living his dream, and the football world will be watching to see if his teammates can truly elevate their game enough to help him shine.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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