Everything that could go wrong did go wrong for the Washington Commanders in their primetime collapse against the Green Bay Packers in Week 2. Jayden Daniels was not exempt from blame, but the quarterback doesn't plan on wallowing in self-pity for long.
Daniels is all about what comes next. Even when he was in the midst of his rookie campaign for the ages, he was focused firmly on upcoming challenges and nothing more. It's also why he turned the page on his first-year accomplishments quickly to ensure this meteoric rise could be sustained.
Things did not go well for Daniels on Thursday Night Football versus the Green Bay Packers. The defensive game plan was first-class, keeping the signal-caller contained by bringing pressure consistently and locking up the wide receivers with relative comfort. It was an evening to forget for everyone associated with the franchise, and a lot of soul-searching is needed over the mini-bye week to make sure this doesn't impact their overall goals.
Jayden Daniels delivers strong message to Commanders' locker room after Week 2 loss
The former LSU standout sent a blunt message that the team needed to hear. Daniels was not going to panic over one loss, and he doesn't expect his teammates to, either. He still believes, and there is a fierce desire to right this wrong at the earliest possible opportunity.
"We got 10 days until our next game, it’s nothing to dwell about. It’s early in the season. I wouldn’t expect anybody in this locker room to hit a panic button. We faced a really good team and we came up short. We move on to the next game."Jayden Daniels via Pro Football Talk
This mentality will envelop everyone in the locker room. The Commanders should be made of sterner stuff than to get too caught up in one loss. They proved that last season. Having an early test of their resolve isn't ideal, but they've overcome adversity effectively before.
If Daniels has anything to say about it, they will again. He leads by example and with a quiet aura that people naturally follow. But when there is a need to stand up and be counted, he's got no problem doing that, either.
Daniels didn't mix his words. He was obviously disappointed and frustrated in equal measure. But the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is not going to let this define Washington's campaign.
It's up to the players following him into battle to follow suit. Anything less will be enough to raise alarm bells.