With Baker Mayfield injured, Jalon Daniels started at quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football in Week 5. It was the second straight NFL start for the undrafted rookie out of Kansas. And best of all his team beat the Dallas Cowboys on the road on a short week. It was the Buccaneers’ first win of the season, which was reason enough to celebrate, but for the Daniels family, it was so much bigger than that.
After Daniels completed 19-of-25 passes for 189 yards and threw a touchdown pass he and teammate Vita Vea joined the “TNF” crew to talk about the game. Host Charissa Thompson wasted no time bringing up Daniels’ mother who was standing nearby and the crew invited her onto the set. She was understandably beaming.
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“It is indescribable,” said Daniels’ mom. “This moment is so big. I’m speechless. I’m so proud of you. I am SO proud of you. This is amazing.”
Just a few weeks ago this mom probably seemed impossible. Daniels beat the odds to make the team, but he was backing up a guy who just signed a $165 million contract. On top of the big contract, Mayfield hadn’t missed a game in his time with the Buccaneers. An injury was the only way he was getting on the field. Now people are actually wondering if he should remain the starter.
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That seems unlikely. Mayfield now has a long week to get better before the Bucs play the Pittsburgh Steelers at home. Daniels will eventually return to the bench, but he made the most of his opportunity and the Bucs and their fans should feel comfortable knowing they have a legitimate backup going forward.
That’s plenty of reason to be proud.
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