In Week 1, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels displayed precisely why the Commanders chosen him with the No. 2 general choose within the 2024 NFL Draft.
Washington fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 37-20, however Daniels was among the many few vivid spots on offense.
The 23-year-old accomplished 17-of-24 passes for 184 yards, however his legs had been a real distinction maker, as he led the crew with 88 speeding yards and two touchdowns.
Whereas head coach Dan Quinn favored what he noticed from his rookie quarterback, he nonetheless believes he should proceed to enhance one space of his sport.
“Actually not all of these are designed quarterback runs,” Quinn mentioned. “We might like to see him stay a passer first, and I feel it may include extra expertise, actually.”
It is not shocking that Daniels leaned on his mobility in his regular-season debut after having related success the previous two years at LSU, the place he rushed for two,019 yards and 21 touchdowns.
In actual fact, his 88 speeding yards had been probably the most by a rookie quarterback in a Week 1 debut in NFL historical past.
Nonetheless, that additionally resulted within the Commanders large receivers having underwhelming afternoons, as they mixed for 55 complete yards. No. 1 large receiver Terry McLaurin completed the day with simply two catches for 17 yards.
Quinn believes that should change if Washington hopes to get within the win column.
“I feel should you’d requested him, there’ll in all probability be a couple of throws that he would both like to tear or the place the development might have taken him,” Quinn added. “So, missed alternatives. These are the laborious ones. I feel the one to Terry to begin the second half and people ones.”
That a part of Daniels’ growth will include time and reps. So within the meantime, do not be shocked if he continues utilizing his legs greater than Quinn would love.
Daniels should defend himself when he does resolve to run with extra possibilities to take pointless hits.
“I feel you will see that trajectory proceed as we go,” Quinn completed. “Actually, 18 carries will not be the mannequin that we’re searching for, actually with Brian (Robinson) and Austin (Ekeler) and others right here. However on the finish of it, I do suppose we’ll proceed to develop in that spot. However actually not by design to have that many.”
