Williams, Daniels shine in NFL preseason debuts

By Jenna West, Kevin Fishbain and Ben Standig

During preseason training on Saturday, NFL fans got their first glimpse of quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, the No. 1 and No. 2 picks in this year’s draft. And the rookies performed admirably.

The Buffalo Bills hosted the Chicago Bears, who let Williams play the entire first quarter. He made a throw late in the quarter that made everyone’s eyes widen when Williams rolled to his right and, running, threw a 26-yard pass to Cole Kmet. He may have been slightly behind Kmet, but the arm strength to make that throw while moving to his right is rare.

Both of Williams’ drives ended in field goals, giving the Bears an early lead over the Bills, who started with Josh Allen.

Williams finished 4 of 7 with 95 throwing yards, while adding one carry for 13 rushing yards. Reserve Tyson Bagent took over in the second quarter.

Caleb Williams is MONEY on the run.

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— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024

In New York, Daniels and the Washington Commanders took on the Jets. The anticipation for Daniels’ debut, even in the preseason, became must-see television from the moment Washington drafted the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. His dual-threat capabilities shone on the opening possession.

Daniels, a passer who runs, threw a perfect 42-yard strike to the right sideline to wide receiver Dyami Brown on third-and-six at New York’s 24-yard line. Facing third-and-three from the Jets’ three-yard line after a pair of first downs, Daniels faked a handoff on the zone read and bounced out for an easy touchdown run to the right corner of the end zone.

Jayden Daniels holds it for the TD on his opening drive 🔥 @JayD__5

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— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024

That was all the coaching staff needed to see, especially with a shorthanded offensive line; Washington’s top three tackles were ejected. Daniels finished 2-of-3 for 45 yards with a three-yard dash on the 11-play, 70-yard opening drive. Marcus Mariota took over on the ensuing possession, and Daniels’ day was over.

What did Williams look like?

It resembled his training camp struggles when Williams dropped back for his first NFL pass. The pocket eventually collapsed, he was forced to scramble, Darnell Wright was flagged for holding and Williams ultimately threw the ball away as he reached the sideline. But he kept his eyes on the field the entire time and two plays later calmly went through his reads before hitting DJ Moore for a first down on third-and-12.

On the next play, Williams didn’t panic against the rush and gave the ball to D’Andre Swift on a screen pass. It could have been a no-look pass. Swift took it 42 yards.
The next drive went 74 yards in 12 plays and featured two more completions by Williams and a 13-yard scramble on third down — when Williams used his slip n’ slide skills to slide into the open field. — Kevin Fishbain, Bears staff writer

Caleb Williams’ first completion is a laser for a first down

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— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024

What prompted his throw to Kmet?

An illegal contact on third down as Williams was trying to find wide receiver Rome Odunze set that drive in motion. I could tell Williams was pretty adamant that the flag needed to be thrown, and he was excited about the new set of downs. Then he went to work. Kmet and Moore dropped potential completions, and when Williams’ heave to Odunze on third down in the back of the end zone was too high, you could tell Williams saw an opening and wanted it.

The offense had no pre-snap penalties, which was a priority for head coach Matt Eberflus. While Williams would have liked to find the end zone, he did enough to show the potential of what was to come. — Fish tank

How is Daniels liking Washington?

Passing highs and lows typically define a quarterback’s perception, especially for a rookie coming onto the scene. Still, other aspects of the job that require intelligence and maturity stood out to coach Dan Quinn in training camp.

The pass to Brown was a strong example. On the local television broadcast in the first half, running back Austin Ekeler said that Daniels checked out a screen pass to target the receiver who was running long.

“I had high expectations for (Daniels) coming in,” Quinn said earlier this week, “but I would say he’s absolutely exceeded even my expectations of the readiness, the command. I knew he’d be cool, he knows the system. He just has that about him.”

The Jets sat 28 players for Saturday’s season opener, while the Commanders sat 11, including tight end Zach Ertz. That’s important context, especially since Washington’s offense generated minimal yards in Thursday’s rainy joint practice against New York’s top-ranked defense. Daniels, however, showed poise and steady decision-making. He continued to protect the ball, a habit that’s been consistent throughout training camp.

“It feels like the game is starting to slow down for (Daniels) more and more,” McLaurin continued. “When he came in, he had a great feel for his ball placement and his anticipation. I think that’s what really sets him apart.

As offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury installed more of the system, Daniels began to show his arm talent with pinpoint throws down the field. The completion to Brown was a prime example.

Jayden Daniels throws the ball DEEP on his second throw

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— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024

Teammates have praised Daniels’ work ethic — the 23-year-old is among the first to visit the team’s facility for practices — and the camaraderie in the locker room. The rookie arrived for Saturday’s game in a Doug Williams shirtWilliams won the 1987 Super Bowl with Washington and currently serves as a senior advisor for the team. — Ben Standig, Senior Writer of Commanders

Will Daniels get a starting spot?

Quinn has yet to name the starting player for Washington’s Week 1 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. There’s no drama here. Daniels gets the job. He’s earned the opportunity. That’s different from saying he’ll light up the league from the start. He needs help, and the questions about the offensive line remain. After one preseason drive, so do the sky-high expectations. —Standing

Required reading

(Photo: Mark Konezny/USA Today)