Jalon Daniels Shines Again For Buccaneers as He Looks to Become QB2

Let me know if you've heard this one before.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels enters a preseason game; the offense looks completely different, and he leads the Bucs to victory.

Anyone who has watched Tampa's first preseason games last weekend may have experienced a case of deja vu Saturday night. After sparking the offense last week to a 24-16 win over the New York Jets, Daniels was once again the hero in Saturday's 16-15  triumph over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Last week, third-string QB Connor Bazelak got the start and played the first half, only guiding the offense to a field goal. Once Daniels took over, the offense played like a well-oiled machine as the rookie led Tampa on two touchdown drives. In the competition to be Tampa's QB3, Daniels clearly won Round 1.

Instead of a Round 2, Daniels moved up in weight class. With head coach Todd Bowles announcing an "open competition" for the QB2 job, Daniels left Bazelak in his rearview mirror and now has his sights set on overtaking Jake Browning to become Baker Mayfield's primary backup.

After not playing last week due to a minor back injury, Browning was able to make his preseason debut against the Chiefs.

Mayfield got the start and played only two uneventful drives. Browning took over and got off to the worst start imaginable. After a six-yard scramble on his first snap, Browning was leveled on a sack on just his second play and had to leave the game, giving Daniels an earlier-than-expected start to his night.

However, Browning returned on the next drive and actually played pretty well, at least when given time. He was sacked two more times, fumbling on one (which TB recovered). Browning played into the third quarter, ending his night 8-for-11 for 84 yards. He added a pair of rushes for 14 yards. However, when Browning left the game, the scoreboard still read "0" for the Bucs.

Daniels took over down 9-0. Just like last week, he immediately drove the Bucs down the field for a touchdown. The seven-play, 49-yard drive was capped off with Daniels rifling a 2-yard bullet to tight end Ko Kieft for the TD.

His second drive saw Tampa march 45 yards in 10 plays for a field goal. Daniels was then given a short field after the defense recorded an interception. Six plays and 22 yards later, the Bucs were in the end zone once again. Up one, they went for two, which resulted in Daniels being sacked.

After KC missed a field goal, Daniels was given the ball back with an opportunity to run out the clock and end the game in victory formation. He did not disappoint. Daniels hit Kam Johnson for 12 yards on a third-and-3 to take the game to the two-minute warning. Three kneel-downs later, the game was over. It was fitting that Daniels got to experience his first taste of victory formation in the NFL.

Daniels would finish the game 9-for-14 for 71 yards and the TD, while rushing seven times for an additional 19 yards.

Needless to say, Daniels was all smiles in his post-game interview, especially happy that his family could fly out to see the game.

Daniels is skyrocketing up the depth chart and becoming a fan favorite at a record pace. He has only two games of professional experience under his belt yet plays with the poise of a seasoned veteran.

There is no way Tampa can keep Daniels off the roster at this point. The only question is whether he will start the regular season as QB2 or QB3.

He has done more with his opportunities over the two preseason games than anyone could have reasonably expected from an undrafted rookie. The organization deserves a ton of credit for bringing him in after the draft.

Daniels has one more shot to make his case to be Baker Mayfield's backup. The Bucs take on the Jacksonville Jaguars next Friday at 7:30 PM in the preseason finale.