Source: Undrafted rookie lands Bucs' QB2 role — SkimNews
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- Jalon Daniels, an undrafted rookie free agent, will back up Baker Mayfield after beating out veteran Jake Browning for Tampa Bay's QB2 role, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
- Buccaneers will release Browning on Sunday as part of their cutdown to 53 players; Daniels had entered camp as a long shot behind Mayfield and the one-year-deal veteran.
- Daniels signed with Tampa Bay earlier this year for a $25,000 signing bonus and appeared in all three preseason games, completing 61.4% of his passes for 239 yards and a touchdown while rushing 37 yards and a score.
- In Friday's preseason finale—a 19-0 loss to the Jaguars—Daniels started and struggled, going 8-of-15 for 57 yards and losing a fumble, prompting coach Todd Bowles to say the offense 'wasn't very good tonight' and that they'd evaluate film.
- Tampa Bay will also waive running back Josh Williams, per ESPN's Jenna Laine; Williams had 57 rushing yards on 18 carries with a touchdown this preseason while competing for the No. 3 running back spot.
- Bowles praised Daniels' body of work, saying he 'has shown a lot' across camp and the preseason slate despite the shaky finale.
Why it matters: A $25,000 signing bonus separates Daniels from the practice squad scrap heap and the Buccaneers' active roster, where he'll be one snap away from Baker Mayfield. Browning, who beat out a quarterback room just last offseason, is now the odd man out, underscoring how thin the margin is for backup jobs in Tampa Bay.
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