ASHBURN, Va. — Dan Quinn went to quarterback Jayden Daniels on Monday morning with the most obvious news outside of a featured rookie.
The Washington Commanders head coach announced to Daniels, and then to the world, that he would be the starting quarterback coming into Week 1. Since it was a secret, it came as no surprise to hear the two-way player would also be playing center for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“We knew Jaden would get there, but (general manager) Adam (Peters) and I were most excited to see how he got there,” Quinn said. “It’s just amazing how far he got. He did it all. He didn’t miss a beat. He got there. He’s ready and he’s earned it.”
Daniels was destined to reach this level given his upbringing: At age 7, he had a sign above his bedroom door that read, “I’m going to play in the NFL one day.”
“It’s a surreal moment,” Daniels, 23, said.
Either way, Daniels wasn’t expecting anything when Quinn walked into the room.
“There’s nothing I could give in this world,” Daniels said, smiling broadly.
“I was surprised when he told me. I had no idea what he was talking about. I thought he was going to talk about my routine for the (preseason) game (Sunday).”
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner was the talk of the Washington, D.C., area (outside of politics) from the moment Washington selected him No. 2 overall in April’s NFL draft. Only injury or some undiscovered object could stop him from becoming the eighth opening-day starting quarterback in eight seasons.
The presence of veteran Marcus Mariota gives Quinn a chance to get some contenders, but even the coach acknowledged there was no room for doubt.
“He’s a rare competitor,” Quinn said. “I knew about him, but to see it in his own building, on his own team, surrounded by his new teammates, it was cool to watch.”
Quinn said Daniels’ best practice came last Tuesday before Washington traveled to Miami for a joint practice and preseason game with the Dolphins. Assuming he misses the preseason finale against the New England Patriots, Daniels completed 12 of 15 attempts for 123 yards and 16 yards rushing and one rushing touchdown in the two-game showcase.
“I wouldn’t be surprised by anything Jaden does,” offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury told The Athletic after the Dolphins’ joint practice. “He’s gone out there, he’s worked hard, he’s made checks and plays every day and it seems like he’s (showed) a step forward. So that’s exciting. You see him making steady progress every day. If he continues to take that day by day, we’re hopeful that it will pay off during the season.”
Washington has several other lineup and roster battles to discuss, including the pecking order at wide receiver, outside cornerback and offensive tackle, and while Daniels had a classic teaching moment, scare-frightening Quinn over contact against Miami, such discussions at the sport’s most influential position are long over.
“What DQ and (the staff) preach here is competition,” Daniels said. “You have to earn the right to stay. You have to earn the right to be on the field. … If you go out there to compete, everybody improves. What they preach, they live by.”
Must Read
(Photo by Kevin Savitas/Getty Images)
