There’s little to worry about in Jayden Daniels’ two preseason starts. That’s not to say the Washington Commanders’ rookie quarterback hasn’t made coach Dan Quinn nervous.
Daniels’ 42-yard completion after calling an audible last week marked the electric quarterback’s first-ever NFL play — and prompted a brilliant “Top Gun” analogy from the head coach. In Saturday’s second preseason game, a 13-6 rout of the Miami Dolphins, the rookie first-round pick completed 10 of 12 passes (83.3 percent) for 78 yards and drove the Commanders into field goal range on his only two possessions.
He also drove into traffic in a play instead of hitting the brakes and getting to safety, causing Quinn to return to the film for a quote from “Animal House.”
“Yeah, he’s on double-secret probation,” Quinn joked.
Getting through the preseason injury-free is the number one goal for any team. That desire is tenfold for Daniels, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft who passed and ran for the Heisman Trophy last season. The 6-foot-1 quarterback’s slight frame isn’t built for hard hits. The cartoonish hits he took at LSU made sliding a major topic for the new coaching staff.
“He will. He will, he will,” offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said this month. “We’ve talked about it a lot, but you love the competitive nature of it. There’s just a time and a place for it.”
This time it came on a second-and-4 from Washington’s 37-yard line on its second possession. Kingsbury called a read-option and Daniels, after faking the handoff, took off just outside tight end John Bates’ lead block. He gained 13 yards but got into a fight with a couple of Miami defenders before falling to the turf unharmed.
Daniels smiled as he spoke to reporters about the race. He called the decision to do or not do something “an ongoing battle” and said it’s a “fine line between knowing when to take risks and when to back off.”
After moving a few yards back from the Commanders’ sideline, Daniels heard Quinn say, “‘Get down, get down!’ That’s just our little joke.”
There’s nothing ridiculous about Daniels’ potential or the faith Quinn, Kingsbury and others have already placed in him.
“It means a lot that they trust me to go out there and play the position,” Daniels said on the local television broadcast of his 12 pass attempts in two drives. “Put the ball in the right spot. Take care of the football. (They let me) play the football.”
Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed all five pass attempts for 51 yards, including a deft 13-yard corner toss over Washington cornerback Benjamin St-Juste to River Cracraft for the game’s lone touchdown. Defensive end Jamin Davis, playing against Miami’s third-stringers, had a strip sack for one of Washington’s two takeaways and four sacks.
“I really felt the running and hitting come alive,” Quinn said.
fired ✅
restored ✅📺 #WASvsMIA @WUSA9 photo.twitter.com/E9QRJUkDd8
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 18, 2024
Washington sat fewer players than it did in its road game against the New York Jets. The defense was without linemen Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Clelin Ferrell, Dante Fowler Jr. and five linebackers, led by Bobby Wagner. Wagner’s tag-team partner, Frankie Luvu, flew around the field in limited work and finished with four tackles.
Quarterbacks Marcus Mariota (groin) and Sam Hartman (shoulder), offensive tackle Brandon Coleman (shoulder injury) and tight end Zach Ertz (personal) were not in the game. Miami was without star receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Daniels showed no stress in executing Washington’s up-tempo approach, quickly moving teammates to the line of scrimmage and deftly reading the defense. If Daniels doesn’t suit up for the Aug. 25 meeting at Commanders Field against the New England Patriots — a good bet he’ll sit out — he’ll finish his first preseason 12-of-15 for 123 yards with 16 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
Kingsbury shared his intentions for Saturday’s plan with The AthleticsStarting with a desire to show little strategy, knowing that future enemies are watching. Basic schemes. Linemen trying to move men at the point of attack without a chip or a double team. Receivers looking to win one-on-one contests in space. Game tape will reveal details about those fronts to the staff. Kingsbury’s other checklist item — picking up the pace — needs no review.
Washington moved quickly on drives of 10 plays (for 46 yards) and nine plays (52 yards) with Daniels at his ease, though both possessions ended with field goal attempts from beyond the 20-yard line. Kingsbury deployed Daniels almost exclusively on offense, varying the personnel and formation.
Three-receiver sets were the primary formation, unofficially, including a pair of 11-yard power runs by Brian Robinson Jr. to start the second drive. Using four receivers is a Kingsbury staple. That’s what Washington employed on a third-and-3 from the 45-yard line with Daniels feeding Terry McLaurin at the line marker and the receiver getting clear for 20 yards. The drive stalled and kicker Riley Patterson missed a 49-yard field goal try wide left.
The next possession stretched into the second quarter and lasted longer than desired thanks to two penalties, both on right tackle Andrew Wylie. A holding call on third-and-1 from Miami’s 22 effectively ended any touchdown hopes.
Jeff Driskel (11 of 15, 82 yards) followed Daniels, flashing his athleticism with a 41-yard run. After signing on Thursday, quarterback Trace McSorley nearly threw a touchdown in the final minute, but Mitchell Tinsley couldn’t catch the slightly misplaced throw on the goal line. Barring the unforeseen, those names won’t be playing in the regular season for Washington. Even though he hasn’t been named the Week 1 starter, Daniels is the man, even after giving his head coach another scare.
BIG win for @jeffdriskel ‼️
📺 #WASvsMIA @WUSA9 photo.twitter.com/Mb7E8YNM1y
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 17, 2024
“I thought (Jayden) had another really good outing,” Quinn said. “The decision of where to go (with passes). He’s a really unique competitor. But yeah, he’s definitely in trouble with the head coach again.”
Other notes from Washington’s second exhibition game
• Patterson, who went a perfect 6-of-6 in Thursday’s joint practice, accounted for Washington’s lone points on field goals of 46 and 38 yards. He also missed a pair, the second coming on a 43-yard attempt, continuing a fitful summer. The ex-Jacksonville Jaguar, acquired early in training camp, is the lone kicker on the roster after the team released Ramiz Ahmed following the Jets game.
Quinn supported Patterson after the loss. Still, the Commanders will eventually add a kicker or two, though they may wait until teams trim their rosters to 53 players.
• The WR2 competition remains fluid, as candidates were limited to submission. Dyami Brown caught three passes for 19 yards on the first drive. Olamide Zaccheaus finished with two for 9 yards, while Jahan Dotson’s lone catch went on two targets for 3 yards.
• Seventh-round edge rusher Javontae Jean-Baptiste, who played for Davis, also had a sack. Washington coaches appear pleased with Davis’ effort in the transition from linebacker to defensive end. Davis’ physical skills are on display, as is the 2021 first-round pick’s growth this summer. However, he lags behind other defensive ends, including another standout, KJ Henry. Keeping Davis and Jean-Baptiste is feasible if Washington is willing to keep six defensive ends. That could be a challenge if UDFA star Tyler Owens results in the clearance for seven safeties.
• The experiment with the returner continued. Kazmeir Allen averaged 19.5 yards on two kick returns and 3.0 yards on a pair of punt returns. The Commanders also wanted to give the wide receiver a chance to play running back, and the speed threat had 13 yards on three carries. Allen also lost the ball on a fumble. Last year’s staff had hoped to get Allen on the main roster, but he wasn’t ready. There’s still a chance. He gets next week’s Finals to show he belongs.
(Photo: Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
