Jayden Daniels goes rogue, delivers wow play in Commanders preseason debut (2024)

Jayden Daniels needed only one possession in his preseason debut to display the football acumen his head coach touts, as well as a successful maverick mentality.

The heralded rookie quarterback joined the Washington Commanders’ first-team offense Saturday afternoon for the opening possession against the New York Jets. Three plays in, the Commanders faced third-and-6 from their 36-yard line. Knowing starters don’t typically play much in a preseason opener, and with the team’s top three offensive tackles unavailable, an incompletion might have ended Daniels’ day.

The play call from offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury had five receiving targets spread out with Dyami Brown wide right. On his third professional snap, Daniels decided there was a better way.

“He made a check mid-play,” right guard Sam Cosmi said during an in-game interview with the team’s radio broadcast. “It turned out to be a big gain.”

Running back Austin Ekeler said on the television broadcast that, after reading the defense, Daniels checked to an “all-go” play rather than go with the called screen. After taking the shotgun snap and dropping further in the pocket, Daniels, with a need for speed, launched a pass to the streaking Brown.

The fourth-year wide receiver had a step on the cornerback, but the pass coverage was good. The throw was much better, and for coach Dan Quinn, it was cinematic.

“It’s an interesting question, checking into (a long pass on third down),” Quinn said in response to a question about the quarterback’s decision. He then invoked a scene with dialogue from a classic Tom Cruise movie.

“I thought of ‘Top Gun.’ Do I have permission to buzz the tower? No. Ghost Rider, the pattern is full,” Quinn cracked. “I think on that one, (Jayden) wanted to ask for forgiveness and not permission — and then throw an absolute dime over the top to Dyami.”

First NFL completion ✔️

📺 #WASvsNYJ @WUSA9 pic.twitter.com/oq9jwiETx2

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) August 10, 2024

Brown caught the pass for a 42-yard gain, setting up the offense at New York’s 24. After two first downs, the ball rested at the Jets’ 3-yard line for another third down. Daniels, an 1,100-yard rusher in his Heisman Trophy-winning season with LSU, showed off his legs.

After faking an inside handoff, the No. 2 pick in April’s NFL Draft bounced outside and quickly strode untouched to the right corner of the end zone for an easy touchdown. The coaches authorized that mission.

As Quinn recapped Saturday afternoon’s 20-17 road loss at MetLife Stadium, he seemed to wrestle with the quarterback’s rogue move before appreciating the audacity and the wow result.

“So, it was a really cool play,” Quinn said. “I think it probably illustrates, for him, the awareness and checks and things that go into it. So, yeah, he did not ask for permission. He went ahead and buzzed the tower anyway.”

Teammates weren’t icy about Daniels’ actions. They saw the future.

“He was calm and collected, which is what you want to see, and it was really impressive,” Cosmi said. “We all sat on the sideline and were like, ‘Dang, that was really fun.’ 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.”

Context is key. New York held 28 players out of the preseason game two days after its defense stymied Washington’s offense in a rain-drenched joint practice. One observer noted that Daniels kept his on-field poise at the Jets facility despite persistent pass rush pressure and a formidable secondary.

Daniels, who finished 2-for-3 for 45 yards plus the touchdown scamper, maintained his calm in his first live game action. It’s also important to note that, play call switcheroo aside, the quarterback isn’t reckless with the ball. He unofficially has only one interception in training camp but still plays with daring and desire.

This plot point is a Quinn favorite.

“I had high expectations for him coming in,” he said of Daniels earlier in the week. “But I would say he’s definitely surpassed even my expectations of the readiness, the command. I knew he was going to be cool, knowing the system. He’s just got that way about him.”

The Commanders sat 11 players, including starting tight end Zach Ertz, defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, and linebacker Bobby Wagner. Quinn said third-round pick Brandon Coleman, arguably the front-runner to start at left tackle, missed camp practices with a shoulder and pec strain that is a “day-to-day, week-to-week” scenario. Right tackle Andrew Wylie (tightness) hasn’t been part of full team drills since early in camp. Cornelius Lucas, a contender to start at both positions, was not present because of an excused absence.

That meant little-used Trent Scott started at left tackle, with guard Chris Paul at right tackle. Mason Brooks and Braeden Daniels also played tackle after primarily working inside throughout camp. The staff wants to gauge the versatility of each player on the roster, and Quinn cites that silver lining with this scenario. Jayden Daniels played with a clean pocket, and the Commanders allowed only one sack against the Jets’ short-handed defense, but they likely need to acquire more tackles if Coleman and Wylie remain unavailable.

Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota played one series after Daniels, followed by Jeff Driskel. Another rookie quarterback, Sam Hartman, left the game in the second half with an apparent shoulder injury.

Camaraderie inside the building extends beyond the locker room for Daniels. The first-round pick’s pregame fit included a white Doug Williams No. 17 jersey as a show of respect to one of Washington’s all-time heroes and the first Black starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl. Williams remains part of the organization’s front office and a mentor for the young passer.

“What better way to have my debut, my first game, and represent Doug and what he did for this organization,” Daniels said.

Jayden Daniels arrives for his preseason debut by honoring Doug Williamspic.twitter.com/X5dGstD4Zh

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) August 10, 2024

The maturity carried onto the field.

“He seems like he’s already a veteran in there,” Ekeler said. “Manning the huddle and changing calls. He threw a (42-yard) bomb to Dyami and then he capped (the drive) off. That’s what I want to see from this guy.”

Fans likely will see more of Daniels next week in Miami, the site of Washington’s second preseason game. Quinn hasn’t officially named the Week 1 quarterback against Tampa Bay, but you don’t have to be a gridiron soothsayer to see what’s coming against the Bucs or the Dolphins, including another joint practice.

Daniels and his Dolphins quarterback counterpart, Tua Tagovailoa, will likely chat at some point at practice. That happened Thursday with Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The advice offered by the four-time league MVP: “Don’t ride the wave,” Daniels shared.

Rodgers emphasized the expected “up and downs (in) your rookie year. Don’t ride the wave. Stay the course and everything will work out.”

Quinn is learning from his perch that giving Daniels some decision-making latitude is part of the mission in this organizational recalibration campaign. The coach might want to ride the wave since his young top gun won’t always seek permission.

(Top photo: Lucas Boland / USA Today)

Ben Standig is a senior NFL writer focused on the Washington Commanders for The Athletic. The native Washingtonian also hosts the "Standig Room Only" podcast. Ben has covered D.C. area sports since 2005 and is a three-time winner of The Huddle Report's annual NFL mock draft contest. Follow Ben on Twitter @benstandig