When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers determined that undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels had earned their backup quarterback job in August, they knew the danger concerned.
Daniels was the primary undrafted rookie in Buccaneers historical past to begin the season because the workforce’s major backup quarterback. It was an uncommon choice however one the Bucs thought was proper after coaching camp and a strong preseason. Daniels, who performed six school seasons at Kansas, accomplished 27-of-44 passes for 239 yards, one landing and no interceptions with 37 yards and a landing on the bottom in three preseason video games.
Commercial
The Buccaneers made that call presumably hoping Daniels would not be wanted this season. Then, instantly, he was.
Baker Mayfield dislocated his thumb late within the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ loss to the Minnesota Vikings and coach Todd Bowles advised WFLA he’ll miss “a minimal of three weeks.” Bowles stated Daniels would be the starter on Sunday in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers.
It is clearly a really scary stretch arising for the Buccaneers. They’re 0-3 after a collapse within the second half of final season. They’re 2-10 of their final 12 video games. If Mayfield misses three video games and the Bucs lose all three with Daniels (vs. Packers, at Cowboys, vs. Steelers), they will be 0-6 and 2-13 of their final 15. Bowles is already on the recent seat and an 0-6 begin can be unhealthy for him. It may additionally be unhealthy for normal supervisor Jason Licht, who put collectively the roster and did not have a greater backup quarterback plan than an undrafted rookie who was good however removed from nice at Kansas.
It isn’t inconceivable that Daniels might preserve the Buccaneers afloat although. The Pittsburgh Steelers received the primary three begins of undrafted rookie Devlin “Duck” Hodges’ profession in 2019, although they misplaced the subsequent three and Hodges did not play within the NFL after that season. Tommy DeVito performed properly as an undrafted rookie for the 2023 New York Giants, they received three of his six begins and now he is the first backup for the Patriots. Tyson Bagent acquired 4 begins as an undrafted rookie for the 2023 Bears, they went 2-2 and he is now their established backup.
Jalon Daniels would be the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ beginning quarterback instead of Baker Mayfield, coach Todd Bowles stated. (Picture by Parker S. Freedman/Getty Photos)
(Parker S. Freedman through Getty Photos)
So maybe the thought of an 0-3 workforce having to begin an undrafted rookie for a number of weeks is not as unhealthy because it sounds. However it’s a powerful ask. And it was a dangerous proposition when the Buccaneers selected it.
Commercial
“You possibly can trip with the expertise argument, however we would quite have a really proficient, ready, inexperienced quarterback than going with expertise only for the sake of claiming the man’s skilled,” Licht stated through the workforce’s web site. “Like all rookie quarterbacks, whether or not you are the No. 1 general choose or undrafted, there’s going to be a studying curve, there’s going to be ups and downs. However we be ok with the place he is at, his trajectory, and we’re excited.”
We’ll see if the Buccaneers can get by means of the subsequent few video games with out Mayfield. If it goes terribly unhealthy, there might be some justified consternation across the Buccaneers’ workplaces.
Panic meter: Until Daniels has a shocking run, this might get very ugly.
Maye harm his shoulder in final season’s AFC championship sport, and it needs to be healed by now. However Maye has been so unhealthy to begin this season, there’s some concern it is lingering.
Commercial
And Maye’s unusual solutions did not precisely put the hypothesis to relaxation. He dodged the primary query about his shoulder.
“I do not suppose that has something to do with executing and enjoying higher soccer and realizing that is the largest factor that contributes to successful,” Maye advised WEEI, in accordance with Doug Kyed of the Boston Herald.
Maye was requested a follow-up query and he gave the reply that almost all gamers give once they’re enjoying by means of harm.
“Any time I am on the market, and I am in uniform on the sector, I am gonna play 100% and provides it my all,” Maye stated, through Kyed. “That is form of what I’ve to say.”
Commercial
That’s removed from denying his shoulder is injured, when he had a number of alternatives to take action. At this level, an harm is the one logical option to clarify how Maye can go from virtually successful MVP final season to being one of many worst quarterbacks within the NFL by means of three video games this season. It is price monitoring now.
Panic meter: Maye’s play is already alarming, and an harm risk is now a curious a part of that.
Contents
Bengals’ protection reverts to earlier type
By way of two weeks of the NFL season, one of many enjoyable tales was the advance of the Cincinnati Bengals’ protection. After a number of years being close to the underside of the league, it seemed just like the addition of Dexter Lawrence II and others may need turned issues round throughout a 2-0 begin.
Commercial
Then the Steelers, who had scored one landing in two video games earlier than Sunday, dropped 30 factors on the Bengals. Jaylen Warren ran throughout them. Aaron Rodgers, at age 42, had practically 300 yards passing. It seemed just like the previous few seasons, when a leaky protection was the principle cause the Bengals stored lacking the playoffs. Everybody in Cincinnati can be in bother if the Bengals miss the playoffs for a fourth straight season in Joe Burrow’s prime.
Panic meter: Cincinnati is best on protection, however perhaps not as a lot as hoped.
Take any quarterback’s No. 1 receiver away and his manufacturing will endure. Stroud’s has plummeted with out Nico Collins.
Commercial
That is not excellent news for Stroud. Houston scored six factors with out Collins in Week 2, then on Sunday, the Texans had seven factors 93 yards by means of three quarters in opposition to a Colts protection that was the worst within the NFL by means of two weeks. The Texans rallied a bit within the fourth quarter however misplaced 19-17 to fall to 0-3.
As Yahoo Sports activities’ Jay Busbee wrote, it isn’t good for Stroud in a giant season for his future. The Texans need to decide on his future, whether or not to signal him to a giant extension or not. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler wrote earlier than the season began that the Texans have been “ready” to place Stroud within the $50 million per season membership. One has to marvel if that supply remains to be on the desk, or if there can be any supply in any respect if the Texans’ season goes fully bitter.
Panic meter: Houston must be questioning if they’ve to begin over at QB.
Commercial
How unhealthy will the Dolphins’ offense be with out De’Von Achane?
By way of two video games Achane had 38 touches. He was most likely going to proceed to get extra, as a result of the Dolphins are skinny on offense. That is not an possibility anymore after Achane tore his ACL, ending his season.
The Dolphins are thirty first in factors scored and twenty sixth in yardage gained, and that was with Achane for 2 full video games. It won’t get higher with out Achane, one of the explosive gamers within the NFL. The Dolphins’ record of skill-position gamers appears to be like like one thing you’d see within the third preseason sport. Good luck to QB Malik Willis.
Panic meter: There are going to be some ugly video games for the Dolphins’ offense.
Commercial
Rams’ bizarre 1-2 begin
The Rams’ two losses are ugly. No approach round that. Within the first one, they have been dominated in Australia by the 49ers. Even when we blame jet lag, they did not play properly. Then on Sunday, they blew a 16-0 halftime lead, giving up 30 factors within the second half of a loss to the Denver Broncos. They’re 1-2, two video games (and the tiebreaker, for now) behind the 49ers within the NFC West.
What the Rams really want is well being. Puka Nacua missed his second straight sport with a groin harm and surgical procedure is not fully off the desk, in accordance with a report from ESPN. Myles Garrett remains to be out. Both of these gamers would have made a distinction on Sunday, particularly Garrett because the Rams could not get a cease (or an accurate name on what was not a defensive cross interference).
Commercial
It has been three video games. The Rams have performed two of them with out two of the NFL’s finest gamers. The Broncos loss got here after the Rams outgained Denver by 225 yards. Do not let the file idiot you.
Panic meter: Not a lot in any respect, assuming Nacua and Garrett get wholesome