Washington Commanders didn’t have their most important player on the field for long, but it was more than enough to be excited about him.
Jayden Daniels only needed one drive and three passes to prove just how special he could be, not only because of the numbers but because of the way he actually got them.
He was erratic in his first pass, missing a wide-open Austin Ekeler on a screen pass.
Then, facing third and six, he actually audibled a play to find Dyami Brown for a 42-yard gain.
He looked calm and collected in the pocket, looked off the safety, and then found his guy to set up a score.
When asked about that, HC Dan Quinn pretty much confirmed that he didn’t have permission to make checks mid-play, jokingly stating that he had a bit of a Top Gun ‘Buzz the tower’ moment, referring to the classic Tom Cruise movie (via Charles Robinson).
#Commanders coach Dan Quinn said rookie QB Jayden Daniels had a little Top Gun “buzz the tower” moment when he took it upon himself to check out of a called screen into a deep 42-yard completion to Dyami Brown. 🤣 🎥: @Commanders pic.twitter.com/EVs4M65ibK
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) August 10, 2024
Quinn claimed that it seemed like Daniels wanted to ask for forgiveness and not for permission, but it clearly worked out.
Then, on third-and-goal, the No. 2 pick showed his mobility by easily walking into the endzone for the touchdown.
Daniels finished the evening with two completions on three attempts for 45 yards and one rushing score, giving the fans a glimpse of what was to come.
The fact that he was confident enough to make that kind of decision speaks volumes about his confidence but also about his ability to make reads.
It’s still early, but the early returns are exciting.
