Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-05 · by Fred Goodall The Associated Press
Jalon Daniels, an undrafted rookie quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, made his first NFL start against the Green Bay Packers in a 17-14 loss. Despite throwing two interceptions and leading his team to another defeat, Daniels showed promise with 19 completions out of 27 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown, as well as rushing for 55 yards on eight attempts. The Buccaneers are now 0-4, their worst start since 2013, but the team remains optimistic about Daniels' potential to be an effective backup while injured starter Baker Mayfield is out. Coach Todd Bowles confirmed that Daniels will get another chance to start in a Thursday night game against Dallas.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Jalon Daniels, an undrafted rookie quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, made his first NFL start against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Despite the Buccaneers' 17-14 loss, Daniels showed promise, completing 19 of 27 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown. However, he also threw two interceptions that contributed to the team's defeat. The performance was enough to bolster confidence in him as a capable backup for Baker Mayfield, who is expected to miss at least two more games due to a dislocated thumb. Daniels will start again on Thursday night when the Buccaneers face the Dallas Cowboys, aiming to improve his game and help the struggling team.
Written for “Rookie QB Struggles With Buccaneers” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
The undrafted rookie quarterback’s first NFL start didn’t produce the desired result against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, however he did play well enough to bolster his team’s confidence that the former Kansas star can be a capable backup to the injured Baker Mayfield moving forward.
asserted
star → produce → Mayfield
With Mayfield expected to miss at least two more games because of a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand, Daniels will make his next start Thursday night at Dallas.
asserted
Daniels → expect → Dallas
“Obviously, not happy with the result,” Daniels said following a 17-14 loss.
asserted
Daniels → say → loss
“At this position, you want to do everything you can to go out there and win the football game.
asserted
you → want → game
We came up short.”
asserted
We → come → ?
Daniels completed 19 of 27 passes for 148 yards and one touchdown.
asserted
Daniels → complete → yards
He also tossed a pair of first-half interceptions that led to 10 points for the Packers.
asserted
that → toss → Packers
The rookie was Tampa Bay’s second-leading rusher, scrambling for 55 yards on eight attempts, but wasn’t experienced enough to adjust the pass protection to give himself a better chance to make a play on fourth-and-11 to keep his team’s hopes alive in the final two minutes.
asserted
rookie → lead → minutes
“I thought Jalon went out there and did awesome for his first start.
asserted
Jalon → think → start
He had a bunch of energy.
asserted
He → have → energy
He was flying around and making plays.
asserted
He → fly → plays
It was good to see,” two-time All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs said.
asserted
Wirfs → see → ?
“I don’t think you ever saw him get down on himself,” Wirfs added.
asserted
Wirfs → think → himself
“We knew there were going to be ups and downs, but he kept coming out there, kept balling, kept having confidence, kept having command in the huddle.”
asserted
he → know → huddle
Daniels, who spent six seasons at Kansas, is the first rookie to start a game at quarterback in the NFL this season.
asserted
who → spend → NFL
He entered training camp competing for the No. 3 job behind Mayfield and veteran Jake Browning but played well enough in the preseason that the Bucs wound up releasing Browning and moving Daniels to the backup role.
asserted
Bucs → enter → role
“He’ll be the quarterback Thursday night,” coach Todd Bowles confirmed, looking ahead to Dallas.
asserted
Bowles → confirm → Dallas
“He had some ups and downs, but for his first time out there, he hadn’t panic. ...
asserted
he → have → time
He used his legs well at times.
asserted
He → use → times
It was his first (start), he’s going to have some up and downs.”
asserted
he → go → up
The loss dropped Tampa Bay to 0-4 for the first time since 2013.
asserted
loss → drop → 2013
Going back to last season, the Bucs have lost 11 of 13 games.
asserted
Bucs → go → games
The 1992 Chargers are the only team that’s rebounded from losing the first four games of a season to make the playoffs.
asserted
that → rebound → playoffs
“No one is coming to save us.
asserted
one → come → us
We aren’t going to magically get a superhero in here,” Wirfs said.
asserted
Wirfs → go → superhero
“We can’t snap our fingers and be 4-0.
asserted
We → snap → fingers
We can’t snap our fingers and be 2-2.
asserted
We → snap → fingers
It’s the guys in this locker room that are going to get us out of it.”
asserted
that → ’ → it
The prospect of turning the season around and making the playoffs in not on Bowles’ mind.
asserted
prospect → turn → mind
“We’re just trying to get a win against the Cowboys, then we’ll go from there,” the coach said.
“
asserted
coach → try → Cowboys
It’s on us.
asserted
It → ’ → us
We know what the problem is. ...
asserted
problem → know → ?
We can’t keep getting close and not winning,” Bowles added, noting each of the team’s four losses have been by a touchdown or less.
asserted
each → keep → touchdown
“That’s not good enough.”
asserted
That → ’ → ?
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