5 major observations from Jayden Daniels' performance vs. the Bears
By Dean Jones
Jayden Daniels' solid first half
It was a solid first half overall from Jayden Daniels. He wasn't helped by some crucial drops from his pass-catchers in key moments, but it was relatively pleasing aside from that.
If there was one knock on Daniels and the Washington Commanders' offense, it centered on their lack of conviction in the red zone. This contest took on a similar feel to their Week 2 win against the New York Giants. Fortunately, standout kicker Austin Seibert kept the scoreboard ticking over with ruthless accuracy.
This was reflected in Daniels' stats, which were also solid if not spectacular as the Commanders held a 9-0 lead at the interval.
- 52.63 percent completion
- 154 passing yards
- 0 touchdowns
- 0 interceptions
- 0 sacks against
- 31 rushing yards
- 79.7 passer rating (ESPN)
Daniels came through the physical aspect of the game well, which was the big worry after sustaining what was a painful rib injury in Week 7. He was outperforming Caleb Williams and doing just enough. Considering the circumstances, the Commanders couldn't have asked for much more.
Jayden Daniels' mechanics
One of the biggest potential complications surrounding Jayden Daniels' injury was the mechanical aspect. Having a rib issue could impact his upper body movement while throwing the football. Once again, everything checked out on that front in an eye-catching style.
Daniels had plenty of zip on his throws. He showed no signs of hesitancy and everything looked pretty normal. The quarterback throws a beautiful ball, although the Chicago Bears were making it difficult through sticky coverage and the ability to keep him contained in the pocket more often than not.
The Heisman Trophy winner will probably be sore on Monday. And Tuesday. And probably Wednesday. But the fact his throwing motion was fast and there were no wasted motions was an encouraging element to take from the contest.
It wasn't always perfect, especially when the Bears' defense gained some momentum in the second half. Even so, Daniels did well in difficult circumstances and clearly not at 100 percent.