The NFL preseason is more about preparation and awareness than anything else. Getting execution from those two attributions is a plus. Saturday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels put all three on display in his pro debut.
Daniels, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, led the Commanders into an opening-drive touchdown against the New York Jets. Daniels wowed every onlooker with a dime throw for a 42-yard pickup to wide receiver Dyami Brown.
Jayden Daniels called audible leading to dime pass
Making the play more impressive, Daniels connected with Brown after checking out the original play.
Commanders running back Austin Ekeler and right guard Sam Cosmi confirmed during the broadcast Daniels checked the play from a screen.
“We all sat on the sideline and were like, ‘Dang, that was really fun,'” Cosmi said. “So, I think everybody should be very excited just from that little sneak peek right there, I know I am. I know the guys are fired up. I think we got a dude back there.”
Daniels’ big play occurred on 3rd-and-6 with the team facing a three-and-out. He dropped the pass right into Brown with Jets cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse.
Daniels leaned on preparation with offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury to check out of the play called as he saw the Jets’ defense load the box.
“It’s just something throughout practice in the time I’ve been here where Kliff is like, ‘If you don’t like this look, check it,'” Daniels explained, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. “So they came out in a certain look, and we were in a play I didn’t like, so I checked it.”
Dan Quinn’s reaction to Daniels “Top Gun” move
The alert worked. The first down extended the possession, which Daniels capped off with a three-yard touchdown run off a read-option play.
Washington’s head coach, Dan Quinn, was impressed, even if Daniels went off the script, checking to a long pass on third down. Quinn referenced Daniels’ call to the original “Top Gun” movie.
“I thought of “Top Gun,” do I have permission to buzz the tower? No. Ghost Rider, the pattern is full,” Quinn said, per Ben Standig of The Athletic. “And so I think, on that one, he wanted to ask for forgiveness and not permission and then throw an absolute dime over the top to Dyami (Brown) to go… I think it probably illustrates, for him, the awareness and checks and things that go into it. So, yeah, he didn’t ask for permission. He went ahead and buzzed the tower anyway.”
Daniels finished the drive 2-of-3 passing for 45 yards — he completed a screen to top wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
Daniels caps drive with TD run
The opening drive also had seven run plays for Ekeler and lead back Brian Robinson Jr. Robinson rushed for 20 yards on five carries. Ekeler had seven on two touches.
The Commanders overcame a slow start and a false start by left guard Nick Allegretti on second-and-goal from the two. Washington responded with a four-yard gash run by Ekeler, setting up Daniels’ score.
The fake handoff froze the Jets’ defense on two levels. Defensive lineman Michael Clemons was fooled by the fake and followed Ekeler going across Daniels. New York’s defensive back Isaiah Collier saw the action. Yet, the split second he hesitated allowed Daniels to get outside Collier’s angle.
From there, it was a foot race that Daniels was bound to win even when it appeared he was coasting in his stride.
Jayden Daniels entered Washington with high expectations. He’s coming off one of the most impressive college football seasons ever. His Heisman Trophy laminates last season at LSU. Still, given the history of Washington’s quarterbacks, the hype has been tamed.
Saturday was just one game, exactly one drive. Still, that glimpse was enough to increase the excitement about the possibilities of Jayden Daniels in a Washington uniform.
