The Pittsburgh Steelers head to Tampa Bay on Sunday to take on the Buccaneers, who could once again be without starting quarterback Baker Mayfield after he dislocated his thumb in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings. Mayfield said he was feeling better and planned to test his thumb during a throwing session on Wednesday.
Given how tough Mayfield is, he’ll likely do everything he can to get back on the field, especially with the Buccaneers sitting at 1-4. However, unless he makes significant progress, it appears that undrafted rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels will get the start once again.
Daniels played well in his second career start against the Dallas Cowboys, giving the Buccaneers another dimension with his ability to make plays with his legs. Compared to Mayfield, Daniels offers a much greater rushing threat, which could present a different challenge for the Steelers' defense.
The Pittsburgh Steelers look likely to face rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels in Week 6
While Daniels deserves credit for his performance last week, the Cowboys' defense has struggled this season, and facing Pittsburgh will be a much tougher test. Despite the Steelers' own defensive struggles and several injuries in the secondary, their defense should give Daniels more problems than he faced against Dallas.
Daniels' athleticism and ability to make plays with his legs give Tampa Bay another option on offense, but he doesn't bring the same passing ability as Mayfield. The Steelers will need to account for Daniels as a runner, but they could also look to pressure him and force him to make plays through the air.
Still, after rushing for 241 yards as a team last week, expect Tampa Bay to lean on its running game again on Sunday. A strong ground game would take some pressure off Daniels and keep the Steelers' defense from focusing entirely on the rookie quarterback. If the Buccaneers can run the ball effectively on early downs, it could put Daniels in more manageable situations and give him opportunities to make plays without having to carry the offense.
Tampa Bay will also need to avoid falling behind early, as that could force Daniels to throw more than the coaching staff would like. If the Buccaneers can control the game on the ground, they may have a chance to keep things competitive, but Pittsburgh should provide a much tougher challenge than Dallas did last week.
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