Jayden Daniels has arrived for all the world to see.
Three games into a budding NFL career, Daniels was sterling in his prime-time debut, racking up three total touchdowns in the Washington Commanders' surprising 38-33 Monday night victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Showcasing poise beyond his NFL experience, astounding accuracy and educated feet, Daniels had more TDs than incompletions after completing 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards, two touchdowns and rushing for another score as part of his team-leading 39 rushing yards on 12 carries.
"I just said I'm a competitor," Daniels said when asked what he showed the NFL. "I want to compete at the highest level. Obviously, it's a blessing to go out there each and every Sunday to do things that a lot of people in the world can't do. To be blessed to be a part of one of the 32 teams and go out there and compete every Sunday -- and Mondays, or whenever we play."
With Daniels' dual-threat skillset on display all game, it was just as much his decision-making and maturity that glistened. In the big moments on a bright stage, he didn't wilt, he grew and rose to the circumstance.
"He's a really cool customer and he's got real poise about him," Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said. "Going in, we knew the importance of the ball and the decision-making for that. We just couldn't give them short fields and chances to go. So, his ability to know when to, when not to, when to make a play with his legs, we've seen a lot of this at practice and now it's carrying into the games where the decision-making, sliding, going, taking your shot, I thought it was a really strong performance tonight by him."
It was a performance that drew acclaim beyond just those with the Commanders.
"He's a great effing player, I'm not gonna lie," said Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, an LSU product like Daniels. "That was my first time sitting down and watching him besides the spring game. He's a very outstanding player."
Though it's one game, it was the continuation of what was already a promising start for Daniels after bright showings against the New York Giants and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which he completed north of 70% of his passes, played interception-less ball and rushed for a pair of scores.
"He's continuing to grow on the job," Quinn said. "And that's part of he and all of his teammates that are the first-year guys that are growing and learning, when to extend a play, when to get down, when to use his legs. A few days ago, I said, 'What did you learn over the first two games?' And it happened again tonight."
Daniels scattered Paycor Stadium with historical footnotes.
His 91.3% completion percentage was the highest in a game for a rookie in history, per NFL Research. Since 2000, Daniels joined Dak Prescott and Justin Herbert as the only rookie QBs with rushing and passing scores in a prime-time game. And no player, at least since 1950, has ever thrown for 250 yards, multiple touchdowns, rushed for a TD and completed 90 percent of his passes until Daniels did it Monday, per NFL Research.
Though the night provided a long list of firsts for Daniels, he wasn't all that shocked at what he was able to accomplish. That, he explained, comes from preparation.
"Yes and no," Daniels said when asked if he was surprised by his quick success. "Yes, because obviously it's something new to me as I continue this journey in my rookie year. But also, I put in the work, and what's done in the dark will always come to light. I just know I'm prepared for these moments week in and week out. Just got to go out there and play football and execute."
Through his first two games, Daniels was still without his first TD pass, but that also came with historical panache when he hooked up with offensive lineman Trent Scott for a 1-yard score in the third quarter. Not since J.P. Losman connected with Jason Peters on Sept. 11, 2005 has a rookie first-round QB thrown his first touchdown pass to an offensive lineman, and Daniels is the first top-five selection to do it.
It was Daniels' second touchdown, though, a 27-yard pass to Terry McLaurin, that was easily the more impressive. With the Bengals having cut the score to 31-26 after the Commanders had taken a 28-13 lead following the Scott score, Washington was in danger of wasting away Daniels' sensational evening. So, on third-and-7 with 2:15 to play, Daniels and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury stiff-armed the safe play and went for the jugular. Daniels, smiling at a pass rush, welcomed a hit and delivered a beautiful ball that McLaurin turned into a brilliant catch.
On a marvelous night, Daniels showed his calm in the clutch, his fortitude, his accuracy -- all in one play.
"They put the time in, and if they hadn't put the time in you wouldn't have the confidence to go into that space," Quinn said. "But with all the work they've done, obviously we hadn't connected on some of the deep ones to Terry over the first two games, but we knew that wasn't going to be the case moving forward. So, when we had our chances and our moments to go, it was just a really good ball and great catch by Terry, too."
Washington's sitting at 2-1 on the season now and feeling pretty good about 2024. As for their quarterback, the Commanders are feeling rather ecstatic about 2024 and beyond.
For a franchise that's seemingly never-ending QB carousel went off the rails long ago, this was the type of star-announcing display Washington has been hoping would be bestowed upon it. Daniels became the eighth Washington Week 1 starting quarterback in as many seasons when he debuted this year. After a scintillating 60 minutes on Monday night, the Commanders might well feel they have truly found a quarterback to saddle their hopes to for the foreseeable future.
