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Commanders Vs. Jets (Preseason Game 1) – Studs and Duds

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NFL: Washington Commanders at New York Jets
Lucas Boland-USA TODAY Sports

Jayden Daniels NFL debut went much better than I predicted, behind a patchwork offensive line missing both starting offensive tackles. He looked calm, cool and collected in leading the Commanders down the field for a touchdown on the opening drive of the game.

After the first drive, the excitement level dropped off significantly, as both offenses sputtered a bit as different players were given opportunities to show themselves. Overall, it was a relatively successful opening game for new head coach Dan Quinn. He was able to evaluate a lot of his young guys in their first real game action, and no significant injuries were reported.

Below are my Studs and Duds of the game, followed by some notes.

Studs:

Jayden Daniels – He played very well in limited time. The 42 yard dot he dropped to Brown was a thing of beauty. he went 2-3 for 45 yards and had a rushing touchdown in his NFL debut.

Dyami Brown – Brown had two catches for 55 yards, including the nice 42 yard contested catch on the first drive.

Ben Sinnott – Sinnott was targeted three times and caught all three passes for a team-leading 57 yards. What was most impressive was his run-after-catch ability.

John Bates – I was really impressed with Bates’ blocking. He wasn’t targeted in the passing game, but his blocking did enough to make him stand out.

Braeden Daniels – I understand he was going up against the Jets third-team defensive linemen, but I though Daniels did a very nice job at right tackle. He showed athleticism, good hand-placement and a solid anchor.

Michael Wiley – Running with the third team, Wiley showed good burst, speed and vision as he churned his way for a team-high 34 yards and a touchdown on eight carries.

Tyler Owens – In a crowded safety room, Owens stood out in coverage, run support and special teams.

Duds:

Jahan Dotson – Jahan had two receptions on the afternoon, but one was bobbled and the other went for a short gain. He otherwise did poorly when asked to block and struggled to get off man coverage.

Mason Brooks – I understand he was playing at left tackle out of necessity, but his book of work on the afternoon was not very good. He got called for two penalties and had multiple blown blocks.

Michael Deiter – Deiter, who played a lot at right guard, really struggled in pass protection.

Emmanuel Forbes – Forbes had a deep play where he showed good coverage, but he was also beaten one-on-one for this TD. I will admit that he landed on the Duds list partly due to his struggles in the joint practice carrying over to the game.

Riley Patterson – Patterson missed his lone field goal attempt – an easy 39 yarder. I see no reason he should remain on the team come next week.

Notes:

– Jamin Davis had an up and down debut at EDGE. He showed flashes, but his pass rush moves are inconsistent.

– If Trent Scott sees action during the regular season, we could be in some trouble.

– Jordan Magee only played a series or two, but you can see his athleticism jump off the screen.

– Jeremy Reaves was back in action after his injury last season. he was better playing against the run than the pass.

– Both Jeff Driskel and Sam Hartman showed a little something in reserve duty. Each showed off their arms and legs during the game.