Report: Jalon Daniels to play for Kansas against Illinois, starting status uncertain

After missing the Jayhawks’ Week 1 matchup against Missouri State with back tightness, Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels is expected to play in Week 2 versus Illinois according to college football insider Pete Thamel.

Daniels may be available to take on the Fighting Illini, but his status as a starter is still up in the air, as Thamel also reported that Kansas’ staff is yet to determine if Daniels or backup quarterback Jason Bean will start this Saturday.

Bean started last week in Daniels’ absence and was efficient, going 22-for-28 with 276 yards passing and two touchdowns, also recording five carries for 41 yards on the ground. And he may have lost the 2022 offseason quarterback battle to Daniels, but started the first nine games of the season for the Jayhawks in 2021.

Source: Kansas star QB Jalon Daniels is expected to play against Illinois on Friday night after missing the opener against Missouri State with tightness in his back. The staff still has mot determined if Daniels or back-up Jason Bean will start against Illinois.

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) September 7, 2023

Bean also played in Daniels’ relief last season after he suffered a shoulder injury against TCU, making four starts for the Jayhawks in a run where they posted a 1-4 record.

There’s no doubt Bean is experienced, spending three seasons at North Texas prior to his time in Kansas. But Daniels was named the Big 12 Preseason Offensive Player of the Year for a reason, and his presence as the team’s starting quarterback as they take on their first Power 5 opponent of the season would be huge.

Daniels was a major catalyst in the Jayhawks historic 5-0 start to the season last year, throwing for 983 yards and 11 touchdowns during the five-game stretch. He threw just one interception during the first five weeks of the season, also getting it done with his legs with 329 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground.

Kansas’ winning streak came to an end following his shoulder injury in Week 6, and even when he returned for the final three games of the season the Jayhawks couldn’t get back on track, going 0-3 to close out the year.

Despite this, Daniels did finish the season off on a personal high note with a stellar performance in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl where he went for 37-of-55 passing for a school-record 544 yards and a Liberty Bowl record six total touchdowns in their overtime shootout loss to Arkansas.

Along with being named conference Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Daniels was also named Preseason All-Big 12 First Team by the conference and Athlon, earning spots on the watchlists of six different major awards as well. And if can start for the Jayhawks this Saturday, their chances of winning surely go up, as he’s proven to be one of the most dynamic players at the position when healthy.