Commanders must get Jayden Daniels back in the groove
Don’t look now, but there could be a race for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year after all.
This has been Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels’ award to claim all season long. Make no mistake - it still is. But he is coming off the worst game of his rookie campaign against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday Night Football, and Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos is getting better and better.
Daniels still maintains a commanding lead. But if the recent trends continue, this race could be a lot closer than it once appeared.
The Commanders must leave no doubt by getting Daniels back into the groove that took the league by storm earlier in the campaign.
Of course, Daniels can put this to bed if he plays as he is capable against the Dallas Cowboys. The No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft is coming off a much-needed mini-bye, which should help him recover both mentally and physically. This alone should improve the energy levels.
Daniels has remained upbeat throughout his recent struggles, and at least part of his problem has been due to playing against very good defenses. Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin routinely has his men ready for Baltimore Ravens' superstar signal-caller Lamar Jackson. They were ready for Washington’s new iteration.
Against the Eagles, however, Daniels simply looked off. He has been dealing with a rib injury for the past several weeks and playing on short rest. That seemed to limit him in a much colder climate.
The Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU didn’t look nearly as effective running the ball. His throws were not as crisp as they have been. However, it is natural for any rookie quarterback to hit a wall at some point.
The combination of rest and a less formidable opponent should help Daniels look like the player who led the Commanders to a 7-2 record in the first half of the season.