Baker Mayfield is sidelined for weeks with a dislocated thumb, and that means the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, sitting at a brutal 0-3, are handing the keys to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels. This isn’t just some backup stepping in; Daniels is about to make franchise history this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers, becoming the first undrafted rookie quarterback *ever* to start for the Bucs. It’s also the first time a Kansas QB has started an NFL game since Frank Seurer way back in 1987. Talk about being thrown into the fire.
From Undrafted Rookie to Franchise First: The Ultimate High-Stakes Debut
The Buccaneers are in rough shape, seriously. An 0-3 start has head coach Todd Bowles on a seat that’s getting “increasingly warmer,” and now it’s up to an undrafted kid to try and spark an offense that’s been struggling. Daniels is a rookie out of Kansas, a former three-star recruit who was ranked as the No. 61 dual-threat athlete and No. 298 player from California by 247Sports. He initially committed to Middle Tennessee State before flipping to the Jayhawks. Now, he’s tasked with saving a season that feels like it’s already circling the drain. It’s a massive challenge, especially for a guy making his first NFL start against an opponent Tampa Bay needs to beat.
He Was 17, Lost 47-14, Then Pulled Off THAT Texas Upset
Daniels’ college career was a rollercoaster ride from day one. He was one of three Kansas quarterbacks who played in the 2020 season opener, which was in an empty stadium because of the pandemic. He actually got his first collegiate start in his second game, at just 17 years old, where he completed 19 of 33 passes for 159 yards and rushed for 23 yards in a tough 47-14 loss to Baylor. That true freshman season was brutal for Daniels and the Jayhawks, ending with an 0-9 record, and he finished with 50 percent completion, 718 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions in seven games.
But wait, there’s more. In 2021, Daniels was the backup, but an injury pushed him back into the starting lineup against the “hated Texas Longhorns,” who were around 30-point favorites. What happened next? Daniels led Kansas to an insane 57-56 upset victory in overtime. He threw for 202 yards, three touchdowns, and rushed for 45 yards and another touchdown, playing the “magician” on the game-winning two-point conversion that rocked college football. By 2022, he was the named starter, and Kansas started 5-0 before eventually falling off. This kid has seen it all: the lowest lows, the highest highs, and he’s not afraid of a challenge.
So, here we go. Jalon Daniels steps into the fire this Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. Can this kid, who’s already proven he can surprise everyone against impossible odds, be the jolt the 0-3 Buccaneers desperately need to try and turn this season around and save their coach’s job? We’re all watching to see what this undrafted phenom does next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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