Bucs rookie QB Jalon Daniels gets a surprise start but falters in preseason loss at Jaguars

Jalon Daniels’ chances of earning Tampa Bay’s backup quarterback job seemed to diminish in the team’s preseason finale, a 19-0 loss at Jacksonville on Friday night in which neither side played starters.

After leading the Buccaneers to come-from-behind victories against the New York Jets and Kansas City, Daniels got a surprise start against the Jaguars. But he failed to generate much offense, with Tampa Bay punting on six of its first seven possessions. Daniels botched a snap to end the other and was sacked three times.

Daniels completed 8 of 15 passes for 57 yards in nearly three quarters. He also ran four times for 9 yards.

He didn’t get much help from his receivers. Rookie Dean Patterson IV and third-year pro Kameron Johnson dropped third down passes to end the first two drives and then Garrett Greene let one slip through his fingertips in the second quarter.

Getting the start was a chance for Daniels to show he was ready to supplant Jake Browning behind Baker Mayfield. Daniels is an undrafted rookie from Kansas who had been listed behind Browning and Connor Bazelak on Tampa Bay’s depth chart.

Jacksonville got better results from its second-team quarterback, Nick Mullens. Trevor Lawrence’s backup completed 5 of 7 passes for 62 yards in the first quarter.

“They set a tone early on, had some good drives and just (didn’t) finish with some scores,” Jaguars coach Liam Coen said.

Carter Bradley, the son of former Jaguars coach Gus Bradley, took over from there and misfired on two deep passes that could have been touchdowns. Bradley connected with DeeJay Dallas for a score late in the third and then scrambled for a 2-point conversion.

Cam Little kicked a 61-yard field goal, and rookie Michael Wortham returned a punt 63 yards for a TD late.

Jacksonville is looking for additional pass rushers behind Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker. Rookies Wesley Williams and Bryan Thomas Jr. showed they’re ready to contribute.

Williams, a fourth-round draft pick from Duke, nearly sacked Daniels on one play and recovered his fumble on another. Thomas, an undrafted rookie from South Carolina, finished with 2 1/2 sacks. They join second-year pro B.J. Greene II and veteran Dennis Gardeck in giving the Jags quality depth behind two big-time starters.

Jacksonville coach Liam Coen called his first plays of the preseason and then turned the job over to his offensive assistants.

Coen let offensive coordinator Grant Udinski call plays in the team’s first two preseason games but reclaimed the role for the finale to get in a few reps before the regular season. Coen called plays in the first half against Tampa Bay and then relinquished the role to quarterbacks coach Spencer Whipple for the third quarter and pass game specialist John Van Dam for the fourth.

Coen did the same on the defensive side of the ball, with Mathieu Araujo, Tem Lukabu and Matt Edwards getting chances.

Buccaneers linebacker Mohamed Kamara was helped to the locker room in the third quarter with an apparent left knee injury.

Jaguars tight end Hunter Long was shaken up in the first quarter after Bucs safety Miles Killebrew delivered a big hit at the end of a 13-yard gain. Long caught two passes for 47 yards in the frame, putting together solid tape in case he doesn’t make the team.

Tampa Bay opens the season at Cincinnati on Sept. 13.

Jacksonville hosts Cleveland on Sept. 13.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Carter Bradley (10) dives into the end zone for a two-point conversion during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Jacksonville Jaguars running back DeeJay Dallas (20) celebrates a touchdown during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Mohamed Kamara (59) lies on the field during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Jacksonville Jaguars defensive end Bryan Thomas Jr. (57) celebrates a sack during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels (10) looks to pass the ball during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

BALTIMORE (AP) — In a preseason finale that was nearly flawless for Baltimore, kicker Tyler Loop gave the Ravens cause for concern.

Loop missed two of his four field goal attempts Friday night, the only real sour note for Baltimore in a dominant 41-3 win over the Washington Commanders. Loop's rookie season ended in heartbreaking fashion when he missed a field goal and cost the Ravens a playoff spot in their final game. He's hoping to rebound from that, but he's had enough struggles that Baltimore may have to consider bringing in some competition.

“You want to see makes in games, and so it's something we'll continue to look at,” coach Jesse Minter said. “We'll continue to look at what the best situation is there. He has had a good camp overall, but again it comes down to making the kicks in the pressure situations in the games.”

Tyler Huntley and Joe Fagnano each threw a touchdown pass in the first half for the Ravens. With deep backups playing for both teams, it's hard to take much from this game, but anyone who bothered to watch saw a one-sided affair. Baltimore finished with a 26-7 edge in first downs, with the Commanders getting three of theirs on the very last drive. The Ravens also had a 456-177 advantage in total yards.

“It does not matter, you guys, who is or isn't playing. What we saw tonight simply was not good enough,” Washington coach Dan Quinn said. “What makes this even harder is knowing what the next couple days look like, and making tough decisions.”

That was a reference to Sunday, when roster cuts are due.

Loop may not have to worry about that, but his job won't seem all that secure unless he becomes more consistent. In fairness, one of his misses Friday was from 58 yards, but the other was from 51, a pretty routine distance these days. He made field goals of 51 and 24 yards to finish 5 of 8 in three exhibition games this year.

“I know the expectation is to make kicks, and it's what we got to do. I have to carry over the ball-striking from pregame and practice, and it's got to happen every time,” he said. “We got two weeks until (the season opener at) Indy, and we're going to be hyper-focused on that. We're headed into the season, stat sheet's clear, and it's time to go.”

Huntley played only the first offensive series Friday and completed all four of his passes, including a 25-yard scoring strike to Chris Moore that made it 7-0.

Then Kaytron Allen fumbled on Washington's first offensive play, gifting the Ravens a short field. Fagnano scored on a 1-yard sneak.

LaJohntay Wester made it 24-0 with 3:46 remaining in the half, reaching back with one arm and hauling in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Fagnano, but Loop's 51-yarder at the end of the second quarter was wide left.

Jonathan Ward's 2-yard TD run made it 31-0 before an interception by Quindell Johnson put the Commanders in field goal range for their first points of the game.

In the fourth, Dontae McMillan broke free for a 63-yard run on his first carry of the game, and then Austin Reed threw a 20-yard scoring pass to Cornelius Johnson for a 41-3 lead. Baltimore won all three of its preseason games.

The Commanders (1-2) didn't have enough offensive plays to get anyone that many touches until late in the game. Athan Kaliakmanis went 7 of 13 for 45 yards. Sam Hartman relieved him and went 9 of 14 for 64 yards. Washington was 1 for 12 on third down.

Robert Henry Jr. had 33 yards on 10 carries and Craig Reynolds had 38 on nine. Lawrence Cager had six catches for 34 yards.

Ward had 53 yards on seven carries for Baltimore and Rasheen Ali had 28 yards on nine attempts. Adam Randall had 25 yards on five carries along with three catches for 45 yards.

Commanders: Open the season at Philadelphia on Sept. 13.

Ravens: Open at Indianapolis that same day.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Baltimore Ravens running back Johnathan Ward (35) dives over Washington Commanders defensive back Qwuantrezz Knight Sr. (32) during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens running back Dontae McMillan (36) runs for a first down against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Cornelius Johnson (86) celebrates with Elijah Sarratt (13) after catching a touchdown pass against the Washington Commanders during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Cornelius Johnson (86) catches a pass for a touchdown as Washington Commanders' Qwuantrezz Knight Sr. (32) and Fred Davis II (38) defend during the second half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop (33) misses a field goal attempt against the Washington Commanders during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Friday, Aug. 28, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)