Jalon Daniels Drops Epic Quote on Mindset After Being Named Bucs QB1 Amid Baker Mayfield Injury

Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels shared an insightful quote he learned during his University of Kansas tenure with reporters on Wednesday as he prepares for his first NFL start on Sunday vs. the Green Bay Packers.

"You can't be the thermometer, you have to be the thermostat," Daniels said before offering further explanation.

"You have to be someone who comes in and is able to set the temperature of the room, not test the room and try to be able to blend in with it...if the team's low, I have to be able to pick it up to be able to make sure that they're even, and if we're high, then I have to be able to be low to make sure that we're even. I try to be as even keel as possible, and I think being able to go out there and have that even-keel feel, the team around you feels that."

Daniels is QB1 until starting QB Baker Mayfield returns after dislocating his right (throwing) thumb. Head coach Todd Bowles told reporters that Mayfield will miss at least three weeks.

Daniels is therefore in line to start Sunday vs. Green Bay before a quick turnaround for a Thursday Night Football matchup at the Dallas Cowboys. The third game in that stretch is at home on Sunday, Oct. 18 vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.

It's a crucial run for the 0-3 Buccaneers, who certainly don't want to see their season go up in smoke early on. The good news is that the NFC South hasn't gotten off to a positive start, either, with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints all sitting at 1-2.

So Daniels has a great opportunity here to keep Tampa Bay within reach of the NFC South lead. Based on his remarks, Daniels has the right mindset as he looks ahead to victories.

At the very least, he has plenty of collegiate experience to draw from thanks to his 45 starts at Kansas. Of course, this is his first NFL start, but Daniels knows how to take the temperature of a room and lead a football team.

Kickoff on Sunday is set for 1 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium.