Prior to the start of training camp, Commanders’ long-time punter Tress Way offered up his No. 5 to rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.
On Monday, Daniels became Washington’s No. 8. However, we are not talking about jersey number eight. No, on Monday, Daniels became the eighth quarterback to be named the opening-day starter for the eighth consecutive season.
That’s right. Did you realize Kirk Cousins is the last quarterback for the Washington franchise to start on consecutive opening days?
Cousins was the starter for three consecutive seasons (2015-17), and prior to that, Robert Griffin had been the starter for three consecutive seasons (2012-14).
Griffin and Alfred Morris led a potent ground attack in 2012. Griffin gained 815 yards on the ground and led the league in averaging 6.8 yards a carry. Morris gained a whopping 1,613 yards, which remains the single-season franchise record. It was also the last time Washington won ten games in a regular season.
But 2013 and 2014 were not winning seasons for Griffin and the Redskins. The last quarterback to lead Washington to a winning regular season record was Cousins. The Redskins were 9-7 in 2015 and 8-7-1 in 2016.
Former Washington QB Kirk Cousins trying to be a good ambassador https://t.co/a2KTuwtgis pic.twitter.com/W1F5kyIwzO
— Commanders Wire (@Washington_Wire) July 8, 2024
Following Griffin (2012) and Cousins (2015 & 2016), no Washington quarterback has led the team to a winning regular season record.
Here are the opening day named starters for the last eight Washington NFL seasons:
- 2017 Kirk Cousins 7-9
- 2018 Alex Smith 7-9
- 2019 Case Keenum 3-13
- 2020 Dwayne Haskins 7-9
- 2021 Ryan Fitzpatrick 7-10
- 2022 Carson Wentz 8-8-1
- 2023 Sam Howell 4-13
- 2024 Jayden Daniels ?-?