Newly extended Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ starting quarterback Baker Mayfield will miss a minimum of three weeks after suffering a dislocated thumb on his throwing hand in a 23-16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings last week. In his absence, the Buccaneers (0-3) will turn to undrafted free agent rookie Jalon Daniels. 

The Kansas product flashed during the preseason leading two come-from-behind victories and eventually beat out veteran quarterback Jake Browning for the Buccaneers’ backup quarterback job behind Mayfield. Daniels entered the game after Mayfield’s injury but was unable to complete a pass on three attempts and threw the game-ending interception.

With a full week of practice behind him Daniels will make his first-career start in the NFL at home against the Green Bay Packers (1-2) on Oct. 4, becoming just the 17th undrafted free-agent rookie quarterback to make a start since 1990.

Franchise First

Tampa Bay is no stranger to starting a rookie quarterback. Since entering the NFL in 1974, the Buccaneers have started 14 different rookie quarterbacks throughout their history.

On Sunday, Daniels will become the 15th in franchise history, but will be the first-ever undrafted rookie to start a game at quarterback. 

In the 21st century the Buccaneers have started five rookie quarterbacks—Bruce Gradkowski (2006), Josh Johnson (2009), Josh Freeman (2009), Mike Glennon (2013) and Jameis Winston (2015). Of that group, Freeman is the only rookie to get a win in his debut start after throwing for three touchdowns in a 38-28 victory over the Packers in Week 9. Glennon lost to the New York Jets 18-17 in 2013 and Winston was defeated by the Tennessee Titans 42-14 in 2015.

Tampa Bay legend Vinny Testaverde owns the greatest rookie debut, albeit in a 44-34 loss to the New Orleans Saints, when he threw for 369 yards and two touchdowns in 1987.

Feasting on Rookie QBs

Defensively, the Packers have not treated rookie quarterbacks nicely. Since 2002, Green Bay is 23-8 (.742) against rookie quarterbacks. More recently the Packers are 15-2 (.882) since 2018 and 5-2 (.714) since 2023. 

New Orleans Saints backup quarterback Spencer Rattler was the last rookie quarterback to face Green Bay during his rookie season of 2024. In a dominating 34-0 shutout, Rattler managed just 153 yards passing and one interception. As a team the Saints had just 196 yards and two total turnovers.

Former New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito was the last rookie quarterback to win against the Packers. In the 2023 Week 14 matchup, DeVito helped pull off a stunning 24-22 upset after throwing for 158 yards and a touchdown, while also adding 71 yards rushing on 10 attempts. 

Despite their recent success against rookie quarterbacks, Green Bay has struggled defensively so far this season. Through the first three games the Packers are No. 21 in total yards allowed (340.7 yards per game), No. 29 in points allowed (30.3 points per game), have allowed opposing offenses to convert on 50 percent of third downs and have given up a touchdown in the red zone 83.3 percent of the time on 12 attempts.

Brady Cook was the last undrafted quarterback to start a game when the Jets fell to the Jacksonville Jaguars 48-20 in Week 15 of last season.

Tampa Bay will play Green Bay at 1 p.m. ET. on Oct. 4.