Former Kansas Quarterback Jalon Daniels Set to Make First NFL Start Against Packers
Former Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels is set to make the first NFL start of his career Sunday when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers host the Green Bay Packers.
Daniels will get the opportunity after Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield suffered a dislocated right thumb during Tampa Bay’s 23-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Head coach Todd Bowles announced that Mayfield is expected to miss at least three weeks, opening the door for Daniels to take over the offense.
The matchup against Green Bay will be a significant moment for Daniels, who went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft before signing with Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers eventually selected Daniels as Mayfield’s backup after he impressed the coaching staff throughout training camp and the preseason.
Daniels made his NFL regular-season debut against Minnesota after Mayfield exited the game. He attempted three passes but did not complete one and threw an interception. Daniels also rushed once for nine yards.
Despite the difficult introduction to the NFL, Tampa Bay has remained confident in what Daniels can bring to the offense. Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht previously said Daniels earned the backup job through his work during the offseason, while Bowles pointed to the quarterback’s poise and improvement throughout training camp.
Before arriving in Tampa Bay, Daniels spent six seasons at Kansas and became one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in program history.
Daniels appeared in 49 games for the Jayhawks, completing 734 of 1,193 passes for 9,282 yards and 67 touchdowns. He also rushed for 1,445 yards and 23 touchdowns. Daniels finished his Kansas career ranked second in school history in passing yards, passing touchdowns, completions and attempts. He also became just the second player in program history to record more than 10,000 yards of total offense.
His final season in Lawrence was one of his most productive. Daniels started all 12 games in 2025, completing 62.1% of his passes for a career-best 2,531 yards and 22 touchdowns. He added 404 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns.
Now, Daniels will get his first opportunity to translate that production to the NFL.
The Buccaneers enter Sunday’s game 0-3, while the Packers are 1-2 following a 35-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Tampa Bay will host Green Bay at Raymond James Stadium with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
For Daniels, the circumstances are not what he expected when he entered the NFL, but the former Jayhawk now has an opportunity to show what he can do with a full week of preparation and his first NFL start.
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Jimmy Adeniran is a contributor to JayhawksROUNDTABLE. He can be reached at [email protected]
