Jayden Daniels' performances over the last fortnight weren't at the level Washington Commanders fans had become accustomed to seeing from the rookie phenom.
He came up against much more prolific defenses, but something was missing. This led many to wonder whether the quarterback was still feeling the effects of a rib issue suffered on the first drive of Washington's home win over the Carolina Panthers. Daniels wasn't looking for excuses, even though the same zip in his throws had deserted him following the complication.
Having the mini-bye to get some extra rest was much needed for the weary Commanders. They also have their Week 14 bye upcoming, which should serve them well in pursuit of a strong push to cement their postseason claims down the stretch.
Dan Quinn outlines supreme confidence in Jayden Daniels' health
Daniels is going to be a core component of this playoff tilt. It was no surprise to see his status come up during Dan Quinn's media availability this week. The head coach responded with a blunt message that left no doubt about the signal-caller's status and the potential reasons behind his mini-slump.
"I want to first start off by saying clearly and honestly, Jayden [Daniels] is not injured right now. But we did lose valuable practice time with him and his teammates when he was injured. And that’s hard on all the guys. It’s a really, really important part of what we do. And we don’t have banked reps in here, so we’re very much looking forward to getting back onto a full week and regular practice sessions with the guys. So, over the last few weeks, we’ve had to put that together in small bits."Dan Quinn via USA Today
These should alleviate the concerns of fans and silence the critics. It's also worth remembering that Daniels is a rookie and things weren't always going to go smoothly during his first year in a professional environment.
Getting a full week of practice before Week 12 against the Dallas Cowboys should be advantageous for Daniels. He hasn't had a full workload for weeks, which coincided with timing issues and several underthrows in key moments. His pass-catchers making mental errors haven't exactly helped either.
Sunday's game versus the moribund Cowboys represents a chance for Daniels to gain some additional confidence. Dallas' defense has a soft underbelly that can be exploited. If the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU generates some early momentum, a strong performance won't be too far behind.
Daniels wouldn't be out on the field if those in power felt like he couldn't contribute. He's highly competitive, but his fierce desire for team success means he'd have no trouble taking a step back if there wasn't 100 percent conviction.
Two indifferent games don't change the fact Washington has something special with Daniels. The pre-draft skeptics didn't take long to emerge from the woodwork when the tide began to turn. But everyone associated with the Commanders still has supreme confidence in his ability to get this organization back among the challengers.
Quinn left no wiggle room with his status regarding Daniels' health. At the same time, seeing is believing.
If the signal-caller gets back to the form of old this weekend, that should be the last we hear of Daniels' supposed restrictions.