Undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels led Tampa Bay to a 24 to 16 win at Dallas on Thursday night, ending an 0 and 4 start in his second consecutive start standing in for an injured Baker Mayfield.
How did he play?
Efficiently rather than spectacularly. He completed 19 of 25 passes for 189 yards with a touchdown and added 23 rushing yards. He went 8 for 8 during a stretch in the second quarter that ended with a 5 yard touchdown to Bucky Irving, and found Tez Johnson for 64 yards during a 17 point third quarter that decided the game.
Who else contributed?
The running game, heavily. Irving ran for a career high 165 yards and scored on the ground and through the air. Emeka Egbuka, who had started the season slowly, added a rushing touchdown and led the team with six catches. The coach gave game balls to both the quarterback and Irving afterwards.
What is the record?
He is the first undrafted rookie starting quarterback since the common draft era began in 1967 to win a game for a team entering winless. That is a genuine rarity, since it requires three uncommon conditions at once. Other statistical firsts attached to the night require more qualifiers and say less.
What is his background?
Six years as a starter at Kansas, which is an unusual amount of college experience to bring into the league. During his sophomore season in 2021 he led Kansas to a 57 to 56 overtime win at Texas as a 31 point underdog, sealing it with a two point conversion pass. That was the programme’s first win in Austin.
How did he get the job?
By winning it in camp. He moved from fourth on the depth chart to second during the preseason, beating out a veteran with ten career NFL starts. He described himself afterwards as an undrafted rookie rather than simply an NFL quarterback, said he keeps that in mind deliberately, and framed remembering where he came from as his motivation.
What was his approach to starting?
Changing as little as possible. He said his job as backup is to move the ball efficiently while operating as though the starter is still in, so the game plan and the communication with linemen, receivers and backs do not have to change. He described trying to emulate what Mayfield had done through camp and the opening weeks.
Is that a sound way to think about it?
For a backup, yes. A team that rebuilds its offence around a replacement quarterback asks everyone to learn something new in a short week. A backup who can run the existing plan lets ten other players do exactly what they prepared for, which is worth more than any individual improvisation.
When does Mayfield return?
Not for a while. He dislocated his right thumb in Week 3 and had stitches removed this week, with no surgery required. The coach said he will be out a minimum of three weeks and he has not resumed throwing. That gives Jalon Daniels at least two more starts.
