Jayden Daniels has the perfect response to fighting a problem the Commanders offense can't control
Jayden Daniels is still playing at a high level heading into the Washington Commanders' pivotal Week 16 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The trick, however, is he's doing it without some key players on offense.Wide receiver Noah Brown is probably out for the rest of the year. Running back Austin Ekeler has missed the last […]
Jayden Daniels is still playing at a high level heading into the Washington Commanders' pivotal Week 16 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles. The trick, however, is he's doing it without some key players on offense.
Wide receiver Noah Brown is probably out for the rest of the year. Running back Austin Ekeler has missed the last two games while on IR. Tight end Zach Ertz exited Sunday's win over the New Orleans Saints early with a concussion and missed Wednesday's practice. Center Tyler Biadasz was surprisingly ruled out before that game with an illness.
Yet Daniels has completed more than 80% of his passes, has thrown for 432-yards, and has five passing touchdowns to one interception. He's also added 100 combined rushing yards and a touchdown in those games.
A big reason why Daniels has been able to do all of this is because he's clearly a very talented player and he prepares like crazy for each and every game. But there's another key element that's allowed the success: he trusts the guys around him, no matter who's on the field.
"It's just going out there [and] doing my job [and] doing what the defense allows me to do," Daniels told reporters on Wednesday. "[I] go out there make plays when plays need to be made. But, you know, we got guys that, that can go out and make plays themselves. So [I'm] giving them opportunities to do that, no matter who's on the field."
Not only does that allow Daniels' teammates to succeed, it keeps him from overextending and taking chances that contain more risky than reward. It's smart football, which is obviously what we've seen from the rookie QB all year long.
"We know [if] we get everybody on the same page [and] going the right direction, you know, we got a shot," said Daniels.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has repeatedly mentioned the team's "deep crew" in reference to the depth on the roster. Daniels' approach to the game is already one that every quarterback should follow, but it's great to see him buy into that messaging. If the most important leader/player on the team is relaying the head coach's messaging, it should only lead to good things in the form of building a sound culture and the rest of the guys buying in.
Which it's clear that's happened in Year 1 under Quinn. And it should stay that way with Daniels leading things in terms of the guys in-between the hashes.
