CINCINNATI — As Washington backup safety and special teams tight end Jeremy Reaves walks out of the grueling visiting locker room, headphones over his ears, he points in the direction of quarterback Jayden Daniels. He said only two words.
“He’s different,” Reeves said.
Defensive lineman John Allen was direct.
“He’s the answer,” Allen said.
No one in that locker room would disagree. Not a night after he completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns in a 38-33 win over the Bengals on “Monday Night Football.” Not after he delivered a game-clinching 27-yard touchdown pass to receiver Terry McClarin when he was crushed by a blitzing defender.
“I think he stepped up tonight,” McLaurin said. “I’m really excited for him because now as a freshman, once you see those throws, you get more confidence. And I think his confidence is through the roof right now.”
Washington (2-1) entered Sunday’s game at Arizona, winning two straight — scoring on 14 consecutive drives. The Commanders got an early shock from Daniels’ play. Through three games, he has completed 80.3% of his passes, averaging 6.2 air yards per attempt. He has thrown for 662 yards and two touchdowns without an interception.
“He continues to grow on the job,” Washington coach Don Quinn said.
Daniels led a successful field goal drive in Week 2 and threw a touchdown pass on his final full possession Monday night. Players haven’t been shy about praising Daniels since starting to practice with him in the spring.
Their faith in him increased even more.
“The only word I can really say is confidence,” guard Sam Cosmi said when asked what was different about Daniels from the previous four seasons he played. “I believe, we believe.”
Daniels wasn’t surprised when the play clock was winding down, gesturing to the sideline to get the play call. His calm handling of the situation resonated with his teammates.
“It’s shocking how composed he is, but he’s not,” Washington guard Nick Allegretti said. “That’s the situation. What am I going to do? Panic and screw it up. He’s not like that. He’s the situation. He’s going to pick up the 11. Let’s call a play.
“He’s one of the players I’ve ever seen and is in a tough position on the football. When that guy gets stressed, everybody tightens up. So he might not do it on purpose, but his composure makes the whole offense.”
Daniels was asked to convert three fourth downs: two on his arm and one on his leg. He won every time. A fourth-and-2 pass to Luke McCaffrey gained 30 yards to set up the Commanders’ first touchdown. A fourth-and-1 run early in the fourth quarter led to a field goal.
But Zach Ertz had a fourth-and-4 from the Bengals’ 39-yard line with 4 minutes, 26 seconds left and Washington down by five. It went 9 yards.
“It’s a blessing that the coaching staff has confidence in me to go out there and make a play in a big moment,” Daniels said. “But it’s a testament not only to me, but to the whole crime.”
Then he delivered his first signature moment. Three plays later, facing an all-out blitz with a defender, Daniels unleashed a perfect throw that traveled 45 yards in the air and settled into McClure’s hands for a 27-yard touchdown.
McLaurin offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said he wanted the ball on that play. Presented by Daniels.
“When we needed it the most, Jayden did a great job of getting a hit,” said McLaurin, whose 55-yard pass earlier in the game led to another touchdown. “Those are big-time throws for a rookie to make.”
But with all the big throws, Daniels had to figuratively wrestle a teammate to get his first touchdown pass. That’s because backup Trent Scott caught a 1-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter.
“I want to see [the ball] In the middle,” Scott said. “I was nervous as hell, ‘Don’t drop the ball’.”
As much as his teammates weren’t shocked — Allen said he sees that “every day in practice” — Daniels was surprised.
“Yeah, because obviously it’s new to me,” he said. “But knowing the aspect I continue to work on, what is done in the dark always comes to light.”
