Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels sparked plenty of optimism about the franchise’s upcoming season in his exhibition debut Saturday against the New York Jets.
Daniels finished with 45 passing yards, including a perfectly thrown deep ball down the sideline for a 42-yard gain, and later rushed for a touchdown offering a potential glimpse of what could be to come for the No. 2 pick in the draft and the Commanders’ offense this season.
Washington Commanders RB Austin Ekeler Optimistic About Jayden Daniels
This is the second time Commanders running back Austin Ekeler has ridden shotgun alongside a highly touted rookie quarterback, arriving in Washington this offseason after spending the first seven seasons with the Chargers where he got to witness Justin Herbert’s ascension as one of the most gifted passers in the league.
Ekeler is excited by what he’s seen from Daniels so far this summer, and through the preseason opener.
“Now getting around Jayden, too,” Ekeler told NBC Sports Washington DC’s JP Finley.”Seeing the progress he’s making, what I like about both of them is they have leadership skills early on, taking control out on the field. Jayden’s out there changing progressions, changing routes, that’s what I want to see from him. I know that his growth is on a good trajectory because of that.”
The Commanders are hoping that Daniels can maximize a young collection of star caliber offensive weapons that includes Ekeler, and receivers Jahan Dotson and Terry McLaurin.
One NFL executive was impressed by what he saw in Daniels’ first bit of NFL action.
“He hit a nine route on a perfect throw,” an AFC Executive on hand at MetLife Stadium told me. “Then scored a touchdown on a zone-read. He looked very similar to what he did last year at LSU. Definitely a positive start. I get it that he was playing against backups, but he more than fit in.”
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