Jayden Daniels returned to the field after missing two games with a sprained left knee. Exuding toughness and precision, he guided the Commanders to a feel-good 27-10 blowout of the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday. Dealing with the discomfort of playing with a brace on his injured knee, Daniels exhibited outstanding poise and guts, playing a major role in the upset victory.
While he was great overall, Daniels did struggle a bit in the first quarter. He was just 1-of-3 passing for seven yards and two carries for two yards. Once he settled down, especially later in the first half, he got into a groove. He made eight rushing attempts. Even after taking a pounding from the Chargers’ defense, he continued to get up and display his grit. Despite the pressure, he managed to throw for 231 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for an additional 39 yards.
With a few minutes left in the first half, the game was at a critical juncture. Daniels followed with a beautiful 50-yard touchdown strike to WR Luke McCaffrey, leading to another touchdown with just 34 seconds remaining in the second quarter. This was a huge momentum-changing play, enabling the Commanders to go into halftime with all of the confidence.
Daniels’ ability to complete four passes for 20 or more yards stood out, especially considering he had only three such completions in the previous two games combined. His impactful performance kept underscoring his development and flexibility on the pitch.
“He made good decisions. Sometimes he threw the ball away and he got down. That’s something we talked about and worked on. Plays that don’t show up on the stat sheet but to me and to him knowing that it’s a big deal for us to play at our best,” – Dan Quinn
Though he was medically cleared to play earlier in the week, Daniels had been looking forward to his return. When inquired about his return to health, he understatedly answered, “Two weeks.” This offhand comment was an indication of his preparation and mindset coming into that game.
Throughout the match, Daniels showed remarkable poise. He sensed the rush and got in reverse very quickly. With a subtle roll to his right, he just flicked a perfect 8-yard touchdown pass over the defender to Deebo Samuel in the back corner of the end zone. This touchdown was not only the end of a 99-yard drive, but it cemented Daniels’ leadership under center.
Perhaps the biggest adjustment Daniels had to make was learning to slide after runs. He didn’t – or couldn’t – employ this strategy when he was hurt vs Green Bay in Week 2. This change reflected an emerging consciousness of safeguarding his body while maintaining a more hostile approach to his game.
Defensive player Von Miller praised Daniels’ comeback, stating that he needed to “get out and knock the cobwebs off and just play like the guy we know he can play. He was aggressive, too.” This was the same mood all throughout the team as everyone suddenly found themselves rallying around their quarterback.
Daniels’ head coach quickly realized that the sophomore quarterback has a special gift for succeeding when times get tough. It’s this skill that turns him into a diamond-in-the-rough type asset for the Commanders.
“He just has an X factor about him, on third and fourth downs that he can create and make plays,” – Dan Quinn
Regardless, players and coaches have been impressed by the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Daniels’ poise, confidence and command in practice and during games. Jeremy Reaves described him as possessing “that vibe to him, that under-the-pillow cool.” He remarked on Daniels’ versatility as a player who can defeat opponents in multiple ways, calling him “a different cat, the one you don’t see come around too often.”
Players and coaches alike have taken note of Daniels’ demeanor both on and off the field. Jeremy Reaves described him as possessing “that vibe to him, that under-the-pillow cool.” He remarked on Daniels’ versatility as a player who can defeat opponents in multiple ways, calling him “a different cat, the one you don’t see come around too often.”
Leave a Reply