Arrogant Warrior in Washington
The Washington Commanders have found a new lease on life in the form of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. In just four games, Daniels has broken multiple NFL records, breathing life into a long-troubled franchise. His No. 5 jersey is flying off the shelves, but for Daniels, it’s getting ready for his fifth game. “I’m still a rookie,” he continued.
Daniels’ four-game hitting streak boosted Washington’s record to a promising 3-1, marking its best start since 2011. As they head into Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Browns (1-3), they are looking for a 4-1 start that hasn’t happened yet. since 2008.
Daniels’ record breaking record
Daniels has the highest field goal percentage (82.1) after four games of the season. He also has the distinction of becoming the first quarterback to complete 85% or more of his passes in two back-to-back games. Ranked fourth in both quarterback rating (73.3) and yards per attempt (8.5), he has racked up 897 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and one interception, along with 215 rushing yards and four touchdowns. This amazing feat sparked widespread discussion on various television and radio shows, so much so that Fanatics recently announced Daniels’ jersey as the best seller last week.
Daniels appreciates his current position and the opportunity to make a difference. But he is not surprised by this song, he says, “Because I can play well and play badly and people think the opposite,” he said. “It’s about staying on top.”
“Star” Throwing Away Labels
This spring, when a reporter asked him about the benefits of being a “star” player, Daniels dismissed the idea, saying he hadn’t accomplished much. And when asked Wednesday if he could be called a “best player,” Daniels shrugged off the label. “You can say whatever you want,” he said. “I’m still a singer, so I let everyone speak for me. I don’t get caught up in that stuff. But man, it’s just a blessing. Just preparation, obviously the team believes in me and we go out and compete every Sunday.”
Washington coach Dan Quinn doesn’t mind the flash and early success changing Daniels’ path. “Everything he’s shown since he’s arrived is to continue to improve and stay in the moment,” Quinn said. “He has an incredible level of wisdom beyond his years. If I had a concern, I would have fixed it. He’s an easy person to support and to be on this journey with and we start together, it’s really nice to be a part of him.”
Daniels’ relationship with his teammates is strong, often engaging in friendly conversation with quarterback Bobby Wagner about their basketball skills, among other things. They admire his resilience and the way he is handling his newfound fame. “He’s in good shape, he’s very mature, and he’s coming in and working, which is a big thing, especially when you’re young,” Wagner said. “Just come in, do the work, do the plays. What impressed me the most was the success, with all the attention across the country, he was humble and the work has not changed, which is very exciting to see.”
