By Buccaneers Rally Past Chiefs 16-15: Jalon Daniels Makes His Case as Roster Battles Heat Up
By Ken Filler | Tampa Bay Sports Journal
TAMPA — Preseason wins and losses don’t mean much in August, but Individual performances certainly do.
Several players helped their chances of surviving the final roster cut in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 16-15 comeback victory over the Kansas City Chiefs Saturday night at Raymond James Stadium.
However, other players may have hurt their chances of making the final roster, making those decisions a little easier for the coaching staff.
The Buccaneers improved to 2-0 in the preseason, but the bigger story was once again rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels, who provided the spark for an offense that had done very little before he entered the game.
At this point, it is becoming difficult to dismiss what Daniels is doing.
Buccaneers’ Starting Offense Has Quiet Night
Baker Mayfield was under center for Tampa Bay’s first two possessions, and neither went anywhere.
The Buccaneers went three-and-out on both series, with Mayfield completing 2-of-4 passes for 10 yards.
There is little reason for concern considering the limited snaps and preseason circumstances, but it wasn’t exactly the tune-up the first-team offense was hoping for.
The offensive highlight during the opening portion of the game came from Bucky Irving, who rushed three times for 14 yards.
Otherwise, the first half was forgettable.
Jake Browning replaced Mayfield and spent far too much of his night trying to survive behind Tampa Bay’s reserve offensive line. Browning finished with 84 passing yards, but protection problems disrupted the offense.
The Buccaneers went into halftime trailing 9-0.
Then Daniels entered, and the entire feel of the game changed
.
Jalen Daniels Does It Again
For the second consecutive week, Daniels energized the Buccaneers.
The undrafted rookie completed 9-of-14 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown, while adding 19 rushing yards on seven attempts.
More importantly, he directed three consecutive scoring possessions as Tampa Bay erased Kansas City’s lead.
Daniels completed all five of his passes on Tampa Bay’s first touchdown drive, finishing it with a two-yard touchdown pass to Ko Kieft.
He later helped put the Buccaneers in position for a 46-yard B.T. Potter field goal and directed the possession that ended with Sean Tucker’s one-yard touchdown run.
There is simply something magical about Daniels.
The offense looks different when he is running it. He plays with energy, extends plays with his legs and seems remarkably comfortable for an undrafted rookie trying to make an NFL roster.
Afterward, Daniels explained where that confidence comes from.
“ I just come in with confidence,” Daniels said. “I’ve been dreaming to be in this position since I was that young, and every single opportunity that comes my way, whenever my number is called, I’m going to go out there and do it 100% confidently, do it out there with a smile, and go out there and play 100% hard.”
Todd Bowles has clearly noticed.
“He did a good job closing out the game for the second week in a row,” Bowles said. “He made some plays, some clutch plays. Obviously, there are a lot of things that he has to learn, but at the same time, he goes out there, and he makes things happen, and he gives us a chance to win.”
Daniels is by no means a finished product.
His deeper passing game still needs refinement, and operating directly under center remains an area to watch.
Ball-security and exchange issues Saturday can’t become a habit.
But the upside is impossible to ignore.
Browning has the NFL experience. Daniels has the athleticism, youth, and ability to create when a play breaks down.
If the Buccaneers were picking their No. 2 quarterback strictly on what we’ve seen through two preseason games, I’d have Daniels ahead of Browning right now.
He has earned that conversation.
Receivers Make Their Case
Daniels wasn’t the only offensive player who improved his roster chances.
Dean Patterson IV led Tampa Bay with six receptions for 56 yards, including an outstanding 24-yard toe-tapping catch during the Buccaneers’ first touchdown drive.
Kam Johnson, our TBSJ Offensive Player of the Game, continued to show why his value extends beyond the receiving corps.
Johnson caught four passes for 56 yards and also contributed in the return game, including a 28-yard kickoff return and 24 yards on two punt returns.
For a player battling for one of the final roster spots, versatility matters.
If Johnson can contribute as a receiver and become a legitimate weapon on special teams, it becomes considerably harder for the Buccaneers to leave him off the 53-man roster.
Tucker also helped himself, rushing five times for 23 yards and scoring the eventual game-winning touchdown.
Buccaneers’ Pass Rush Looks Ready
If there was one area Tampa Bay fans should feel especially good about coming out of Saturday night, it was the pass rush.
The first-team defense forced Kansas City into consecutive three-and-outs to begin the game and consistently created pressure on Chiefs quarterback Justin Fields.
And we finally got our first preseason look at Rueben Bain Jr.
It was worth the wait.
Bain consistently found his way into the backfield and gave Bucs fans a glimpse of what pairing him with Yaya Diaby could look like when the games begin to count.
That duo could become a problem for opposing offensive lines.
David Walker continued his push with two quarterback hits, while Mohamed Kamara made three tackles and shared a sack during his limited opportunities.
The Buccaneers suddenly have something every NFL defense desperately wants: options off the edge.
Anthony Nelson Reminds Everyone He’s Still Here
With so much attention on Tampa Bay’s younger pass rushers, Anthony Nelson made sure nobody forgot about him.
Nelson is our TBSJ Defensive Player of the Game after another productive performance that included 1.5 sacks, including a strip-sack of Fields.
Nelson and Kamara later combined for a huge 20-yard sack that forced Kansas City to settle for a field goal.
Nelson’s roster spot may not generate the excitement of a young prospect, but dependable pass rushers have value.
Roman Parodie Delivers the Game-Changing Play
One player who absolutely deserves to be added to the list of players who helped themselves is cornerback Roman Parodie.
With Tampa Bay trailing 15-10 in the fourth quarter, Parodie intercepted Chris Oladokun after a bobbled pass and gave Daniels and the offense a short field.
The Buccaneers converted the turnover into Tucker’s touchdown and a 16-15 lead.
For a player fighting near the bottom of the depth chart, those are exactly the plays that get remembered in roster meetings.
Who Helped Their Roster Chances?
Jalon Daniels — UP: The biggest winner of the night. Two preseason games, two victories, and twice he has provided life to the offense. He’s making a legitimate case to be Mayfield’s backup.
Kam Johnson — UP: Production at receiver plus return ability gives Johnson multiple paths onto the roster.
Dean Patterson IV — UP: Six catches for 56 yards and one of the best receptions of the game. At minimum, Patterson is making a strong case to be on the practice squad.
Anthony Nelson — UP: The veteran reminded everyone why dependable edge depth matters.
Mohamed Kamara — UP: Three tackles and half a sack while consistently getting involved around the football.
David Walker — UP: Two quarterback hits and another encouraging step after missing last season.
Roman Parodie — UP: His fourth-quarter interception changed the game. That’s how a young defensive back gets the coaching staff’s attention.
Sean Tucker — UP: Five carries, 23 yards, and the winning touchdown. With roster spots at a premium, he did what he needed to do.
Who Hurt Themselves?
The biggest concern wasn’t necessarily one individual. It was the reserve offensive line.
Browning took far too much punishment, and the Bucs struggled to establish any offensive rhythm until Daniels’ mobility became a factor. Penalties and protection breakdowns among Tampa Bay’s reserve linemen didn’t help players fighting for backup jobs.
Browning didn’t play poorly enough to lose his roster spot on one night, especially considering the protection problems. But he also didn’t do anything to stop Daniels’ momentum.
The veteran entered camp with the obvious advantage in experience.
But two preseason games later, Daniels has turned what looked like a fairly straightforward quarterback depth chart into one of the most interesting decisions Tampa Bay has left to make.
One More Week to Decide
The Buccaneers will now head to Jacksonville for joint practices with the Jaguars on Tuesday and Wednesday before wrapping up the preseason Friday night at EverBank Stadium.
That will represent the final audition for players sitting on the roster bubble.
Tampa Bay is 2-0, but nobody should care much about an undefeated preseason.
What matters is discovering players who can help when the real games begin.
Bain and Diaby gave us an exciting glimpse of what Tampa Bay’s pass rush could become.
Nelson, Kamara and Walker demonstrated the depth behind them.
Patterson, Johnson and Parodie took advantage of opportunities that could influence final roster decisions.
But once again, the player everybody was talking about when the game ended was Jalon Daniels.
Maybe Browning’s experience ultimately wins out.
Maybe the Buccaneers aren’t ready to hand the No. 2 job to an undrafted rookie after a couple of preseason games.
But Daniels keeps making the decision more difficult.
And if I’m filling out the Buccaneers depth chart today, there is no longer much hesitation.
Baker Mayfield is No. 1. Jalon Daniels is No. 2.
Now Daniels gets one more preseason game to prove he should stay there.
