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Daily Slop – 11 Aug 24: Optimism follows ‘Maverick’ Jayden Daniels’ debut in Commanders first preseason game

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ESPN

QB Jayden Daniels impresses in preseason debut for Commanders

Daniels’ first pass was an errant toss on a screen to veteran running back Austin Ekeler. Daniels also completed a screen to receiver Terry McLaurin. Daniels capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run off a zone read, faking a handoff to Ekeler. Daniels ran wide to the right and scored untouched.

After his series ended, Daniels ran to the stands and handed the ball to his mom.

“It was awesome,” Daniels said. “Obviously she’s very excited and happy. I’ve got to fight her to get the ball back now.”

But it was the checked call that stood out most. Daniels told reporters that offensive coordinator Kliff Kinsgsbury had told him often that if he didn’t like the look, check to another play.

“It was going to be a dead play, so I checked it and gave my guy a chance to make a play,” Daniels said. As he sprinted downfield, he turned to the sideline, pointed at teammates and coaches, and smiled.

Washington Post (paywall)

Everything goes right during Jayden Daniels’s first taste of the preseason

The rookie quarterback connected on a deep pass, ran for a touchdown and even buzzed the tower in a successful debut.

Jayden Daniels scanned the defense and saw a row of seven white jerseys at the line of scrimmage. He knew instantly the originally called play was dead, so he checked out of it and instructed Dyami Brown to run a go route up the right sideline.

On third and six during his first drive of Washington’s preseason opener against the New York Jets on Saturday, Daniels connected with Brown for an over-the-shoulder 42-yard completion to help set up a touchdown run (by Daniels, no less) and show one of the many reasons the Commanders were so high on him long before they drafted him in April.

Coach Dan Quinn had a different view of the play but came away just as pleased.

“I thought of “Top Gun,” Quinn said with a grin. “‘Do I have permission to buzz the tower?’ No, Ghostrider, the pattern is full.’ I think on that one he wanted to ask for forgiveness and not permission and throw an absolute dime over the top to Dyami to go. It was a really cool play. I think it probably illustrates for him the awareness and checks and things that go into it.”

Daniels buzzed the tower anyway, and although the sample size was minimal — he and backup Marcus Mariota played a series apiece in the first quarter — and wasn’t against the Jets’ starting defense, the rookie showed everything the Commanders could have wanted in his NFL debut.

The Athletic (paywall)

Commanders’ Jayden Daniels goes rogue, delivers wow play in preseason debut

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.

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.

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.

Commanders Wire

Commanders quarterback Sam Hartman injures shoulder late in preseason opener

With the game tied at 10 entering the fourth quarter, Hartman led the Commanders on a 12-play, 73-yard drive in which he completed four of five passes for 45 yards and also rushed for 17 yards. Rookie running back Michael Wiley capped off the drive with a short touchdown run to give Washington a 17-10 lead.

At some point in the fourth quarter, Hartman took a hit that seemingly injured his shoulder. The Commanders brought back Jeff Driskel to finish the game.

Hartman finished the day completing eight of 13 passes for 83 yards and rushed for 15 yards on two attempts.

As Washington was leaving the field at the end of the game after a 20-17 loss, Hartman had an ice bag on his injured right throwing shoulder, per Sam Fortier of The Washington Post.

NBC Washington

Jayden Daniels dazzles in Commanders preseason debut

In his Commanders debut, the rookie quarterback delivered.

In Washington, where the quarterback position has been as bare as the Sahara for multiple decades, Daniels’ first performance will excite the masses of burgundy and gold fans.

While it’s important to note it was just a preseason game, and just one drive at that, there is real reason for excitement. Daniels has all the tools — good arm, quick release, smooth as a runner and smart in the pocket — but perhaps more significant are his off-field habits.

He’s a football junkie. He gets to the practice facility before most of his teammates. Maybe before all of his teammates. He’s not consumed by social media or clout chasing. By all accounts, he keeps a pretty low profile.

Being a quarterback isn’t just about throwing with anticipation and avoiding sacks. Being a quarterback is being the center of a football franchise’s universe.

Daniels seems ready for all of it.

Commanders.com

Five takeaways from Washington’s 20-17 loss to the Jets

2. The starting defense swarmed to the ball.

Context is always important during the preseason. The Jets announced that 28 of their players would not dress out for Saturday’s game, meaning just one starter on either side of the ball was on the field.

With that said, it was a good showing for the Commanders’ defense. The unit has looked fast and physical since the start of training camp, and it had a lot of the same energy in a game scenario. The Jets’ opening drive resulted in a loss of five yards, and the home team was off the field after three plays.

The best moments of the drive came on third-and-14 when Frankie Luvu and Mike Sainristil corralled Malachi Corley, who was trying to reverse the field on a pass from Tyrod Taylor.

The most encouraging sign from the defense was that the unit has bought into the philosophies defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. Is trying to instill. Every player is running to the ball and contributing to tackles — something that did not happen as often in 2023. The players are also energetic after plays, congratulating each other after big stops.

4. Ben Sinnott is a baller.

Sinnott is listed as the third tight end on the unofficial depth chart, but the Kansas State rookie was making waves during his preseason debut.

Sinnott, the second tight end taken in the draft back in April, was one of the best receivers for his position in program history at the college level. He put those skills on display in the second quarter, taking advantage of a gap in the Jets coverage and rumbling forward for a 44-yard gain, breaking multiple tackles along the way.

Later in the third quarter, now with Sam Hartman in at quarterback, Sinnott was at it again with a 12-yard gain that earned Washington a first down and moved the offense to the 40-yard line.

Sinnott ended up leading the Commanders with 57 yards on three catches and as many targets. It’s still early, but the rookie has proven that he deserves more attention in the passing game.

Athlonsports.com

Jayden Daniels’ Deep Fade Throw on First NFL Drive is a Sign of Things to Come

Last season, per Sports Info Solutions, Daniels attempted 26 fade passes, completing 13 for 280 yards, 273 air yards, 11 touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 131.7.

“I’ve repped it a lot,” Daniels told me last December, when I asked him how he’s able to make a low-percentage pass for most quarterbacks work so well in his case. “Especially during the season with my receivers after practice. The key for me — the outlook — is throwing it to a spot and you find that spot on the field. Especially when we’re in the red zone, we always say, ‘Back pylon.’ So, we’re always aiming to the corner of the back pylon. You throw it to that spot with great timing and anticipation for what your receiver’s temp is, and nine times out of 10, you hit it.

“The slot fade — I would say that it’s just something we work with our offense and work with our receivers all season. If we get man-on-man coverage, especially with the receivers I have, whether it’s Brian [Thomas Jr.], Kyren Lacy, or Malik Nabers, those guys are very explosive athletes. So, I’m trying to guide the ball and throw it perfectly — I’m going to throw it to a spot, and I know my receivers are going to get it, and they proved that all year long.”

Now, Dyami Brown and his fellow Commanders receivers will benefit from Daniels’ fade expertise.

Daniels ended that first drive with a three-yard touchdown run, and his day was done, as the Commanders replaced him with backup Marcus Mariota. Quite an auspicious debut!

Podcasts & videos

Washington Commanders Fall 20-17 in Preseason to Jets But Are Encouraged by Jayden Daniels NFL Debut

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Commanders.com

Pregame | Commanders vs. Jets, preseason Week 1

The Washington Commanders have begun warming up at MetLife Stadium for their preseason opener against the New York Jets. (Emilee Fails and Kourtney Carroll/Washington Commanders)






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ESPN

NFL preseason Week 1: Takeaways on top players, schedule

Commanders: Washington saw what it hoped to from its most important newcomer — rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. He played only one series, and it was against New York’s second defense — and with Washington’s top three offensive tackles not playing. But Daniels’ one series left the Commanders smiling.

He completed 2 of 3 passes for 45 yards and scored on a 3-yard touchdown run. On a third-and-6, Daniels changed the play at the line of scrimmage, switching from a screen and connecting on a go ball down the right side to Dyami Brown. On the touchdown run, the safety wasn’t fooled by the zone-read fake, but Daniels was too quick to the outside and scored easily.

Second-round pick Mike Sainristil had a nice tackle in limited action at corner, and rookie tight end Ben Sinnott caught three passes for 57 yards and showed the ability to break tackles after the catch on a 44-yard play. One key newcomer, linebacker Frankie Luvu, displayed the speed and physical style he has shown throughout training camp. He’s going to be a big help. — John Keim

Eagles: Rookie linebacker Jeremiah Trotter Jr. had the kind of debut Philadelphia fans were looking for. Wearing the same No. 54 his father donned while roaming the middle of the Eagles’ defense for eight seasons, Trotter Jr. conjured up memories of the “Axe Man” with his team-leading six tackles and a sack. A fifth-round pick out of Clemson, Trotter continued what has been a strong summer to date. He is making a case for why he should have a role in Vic Fangio’s defense.

He wasn’t the only rookie to stand out. First-round corner Quinyon Mitchell nearly came up with an interception on the first series of the game. Running back Will Shipley found the end zone on a touchdown pass from Kenny Pickett. And edge rusher Jalyx Hunt (4 tackles) looked comfortable both rushing the passer and playing in space. — Tim McManus

Giants: The Giants got all their rookies into NFL game action, including first-round pick Malik Nabers. The young wide receiver, who has been dominant throughout training camp and joint practices, played 12 snaps on Thursday night against the Lions, mostly with the second-team offense. He ran eight routes and wasn’t targeted by backup quarterback Drew Lock, despite being open on multiple occasions.

Quarterback Daniel Jones and the starting offensive line did not play in the contest. Mostly, it was an uneventful evening for Nabers at MetLife Stadium, aside from being the last player introduced for the home fans during pregame warmups. While Nabers, the No. 6 pick earlier this year, escaped unscathed physically, the same couldn’t be said for Lock. He left the game late in the first quarter with a hip injury and did not return. It did not appear serious as he remained on the sideline, but it’s something worth monitoring with the Giants having only three quarterbacks (Jones, Lock and Tommy DeVito) on their roster. The Giants seemed confident afterwards that Lock would be fine, even if he was “sore,” according to coach Brian Daboll. — Jordan Raanan

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KC Kingdom

Veteran Chief Already Botches New Rule in Embarrassing Fashion

The Chiefs became the first team to completely and embarrassingly botch the NFL’s new kickoff rule during their preseason game on Saturday against the Jaguars.

In a devastatingly avoidable scenario, Deneric Prince saw the football bounce in the end zone and ignored it. However, the ball came back into the field of play and Mecole Hardman tried to make a quick decision. He went into the end zone and knelt for a touchback, grabbing the ball from inside the one-yard line as he knelt.

Unfortunately, Hardman was touching the ball before it bounced back into the end zone. The result? A safety at the conclusion of the first half that suddenly created a double-digit deficit.

To be transparent, the new rule is confusing. The NFL’s operations website states that if a “kick hits in end zone, stays inbounds – returned or downed – if downed then touchback to B30 yard line.”

I’d read that as suggesting that Hardman made the right call, downing a ball that landed in the end zone. By my reading, that should’ve resulted in a touchback. The announcers felt the same way, thinking the ball would be taken to the 30-yard line.

For whatever reason, that was not the case. Jacksonville was awarded a safety and took a 20-10 lead into halftime.

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