The Washington Commanders were one of the biggest surprises of last NFL season, and they’re aiming to build on that success in just a few days. Jayden Daniels is looking to showcase his full skill set starting in Week 1, guided by head coach Dan Quinn, who knows there are still areas that need improvement.
Following the Commanders’ second preseason game against the Bengals, Daniels showcased his athleticism by scoring an impressive rushing touchdown — a play that, while exciting, raised some concerns for the HC.
Asked about the play after the game, Quinn — with a laugh — made it clear that this was a topic he had already discussed with his quarterback before kickoff. It’s something they’re continuing to work on: knowing when to run, when to throw, and when to protect the football.
“You think those conversations haven’t already been told?” he said with a laugh. “It is part of who he is, but it is one of the things we’ve worked on, to say when do you take your shots and when do you go. There will be more of that, at times I’ll say less of that.”
The excitement to see Samuel on the field
One of the most significant moves of this past offseason involved the Commanders landing veteran wide receiver Deebo Samuel. The former 49er made the move to the NFC East to support quarterback Jayden Daniels in what’s shaping up to be a potentially dangerous offense for opposing defenses.
Although he didn’t see much action on the field during the game against the Bengals, head coach Dan Quinn expressed enthusiasm about what his new acquisition can bring to the team.
“I was excited to see Deebo run,” he said. “I’ve been on the other side of that and know what that movie looks like, so that was cool to see.”
The first challenges for the Commanders
- vs New York Giants, September 7
- @ Green Bay Packers, September 11
- vs Las Vegas Raiders, September 21
- @ Atlanta Falcons, September 28
- @ Los Angeles Chargers, October 5