Jayden Daniels got the chance to show the entire NFL that neither his dislocated elbow nor the egregious overtime botch against the New York Giants left him with lingering effects.
And even though the Washington Commanders' comeback on Monday Night Football fell short, the signal-caller did all he could.
It was a difficult start to the game for Daniels. The San Francisco 49ers controlled the clock and looked like they were going to run away with it. Losing prolific wide receiver Terry McLaurin to a significant knee injury was another emotional setback to overcome, so it's not hard to see why things looked so bleak at halftime.
Jayden Daniels led a second-half fightback, but the Commanders fell short
But as all Commanders fans know, Daniels is way too competitive not to go down without a fight.
Daniels led a second-half charge. He was much more convincing, and his ability to stand in the pocket before delivering under pressure was impressive.
It was far from perfect, but the Commanders wouldn't have gotten back into this game without him.
The former Arizona State star made some exceptional throws to Stefon Diggs, Treylon Burks, and third-round rookie Antonio Williams. San Francisco did a tremendous job of taking away his running lanes, but Daniels found ways to make it work without relying on his legs. And once the defense figured things out, the fightback began.
Ultimately, it wasn't enough. But that was not all on Daniels.
Penalties in key moments halted Washington's momentum, even as Jeremy McNichols scored a go-ahead touchdown. Daniels couldn't get off a Hail Mary as time expired, with the Niners swarming him with just a three-man rush. That typified how things went for the offensive line, which is becoming a big problem.
Daniels was at fault as well.
Jayden Daniels has some problems to figure out during the bye week
His situational management drew criticism again. Daniels looked for the checkdown too often rather than seeking open players further downfield. He looked a little hesitant, and there were a couple of throws to Williams and Luke McCaffrey that he would like to have back.
Overall, it was another pleasing outing. But to cut a long story short, Daniels is not seeing the entire field well enough right now.
Too much pressure arrived. Daniels didn't slide effectively and took unnecessary punishment. That could signal growing confidence in the elbow, but protecting himself is critical.
Because if Daniels goes down again, the Commanders would be finished.
Daniels may have to take on the Superman role again, which is concerning. His only elite-level wideout is likely done for the year. The offensive line is abysmal. The team has no consistent rushing attack, and the defense can only play well for one half at a time.
All Daniels can do is keep improving. He's got some things to clean up, with awareness being the biggest one. Something is missing, and everything is not truly aligned. And the longer this continues, the bigger problems Washington will have.
The same complications pre-snap cannot continue after the bye week. Daniels knows it, and he is taking accountability. But in terms of his release and throw velocity, everything is going according to plan.
Everyone needs a break. The bye week is coming at a good time, allowing everyone the chance to rest, restock, and adjust.
That also goes for Daniels, who probably holds head coach Dan Quinn's fortunes in the palm of his hand.
Jayden Daniels' performance grade: B
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