B.J. Daniels, take a bow.
The seventh-round draft pick from South Florida came through with another outstanding performance Thursday night in the 49ers’ 41-6 exhibition victory over the Chargers in San Diego to apparently secure the No. 3 quarterback job in San Francisco.
Daniels completed 5-of-9 throws for 76 yards and two touchdowns, a quarterback rating of 123.1.
All through training camp and the preseason, Daniels was impressive as a leader, quarterback and athlete, and apparently has beaten the odds to make the 49ers roster. He joined a team with Colin Kaepernick and Colt McCoy and Scott Tolzien, and was talked about as a possible multi-purpose player, to be used on special teams, as a receiver, running back and quarterback, or perhaps stashed on the practice squad.
But he clearly outperformed Tolzien at quarterback, and Tolzien was released after Sunday’s victory over the Vikings. Then Daniels outlasted veteran Seneca Wallace, who was brought in late this summer as a possible option if McCoy faltered. Wallace didn’t make the trip to San Diego for Thursday’s game, however, and apparently will soon be released, according to several reports.
Tweeted Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee: “I think the fact that Seneca Wallace didn’t make the trip suggests that he’s been told B.J. Daniels will make the team as the No. 3 QB.”
Daniels’ performance this summer has been so impressive, in fact, that the rookie could eventually work his way into McCoy’s No. 2 slot.
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McCoy wasn’t very impressive during the exhibition season and had another so-so performance in San Diego, completing just 8-of-15 throws for 56 yards, but one of those went for a TD.
Though Daniels often played late in games this summer against defenders who won’t be in the NFL, he’s shown terrific skills. By winning the No. 3 QB job, he’s earned more time to develop, and many 49ers fans are excited by what they’ve seen.
Tweeted one 49ers fan late Thursday night: “BJ Daniels is like finding a $100 bill in a pair of jeans you bought at Goodwill on a $1 per item day.”