Washington Commanders fans won't see Jayden Daniels practice until Friday at the earliest, heading into their Week 3 outing against the Las Vegas Raiders. Marcus Mariota will be ready if the superstar quarterback cannot go, and it could legitimately go either way right now.
It's not looking especially promising, but keeping the bigger picture in mind is crucial. This was a sentiment echoed by one respected NFL analyst, who believes the Commanders need to take a long look at the punishment Daniels is subjecting himself to and adjust their strategy accordingly.
Daniels is a dynamic, creative quarterback. He's got elite-level improvisational skills, but the signal-caller does put himself in harm's way too much. This was evident in college and shows no signs of changing in the pros. It's a problem that can shorten careers if enough brutal hits arrive, which is the last thing Washington needs after waiting so long to find a franchise player of this caliber.
Mina Kimes calls on Commanders to have some tough conversations with Jayden Daniels
Mina Kimes from ESPN placed the microscope on this in greater detail. She highlighted the number of hits Daniels has already taken since entering the league. The analyst didn't think it was sustainable, calling on the Commanders to have some tough conversations to alter his style of play.
"Through the first two weeks of the season, he leads all quarterbacks in QB contact, 29, both as a passer, QB hits and scrambling. You could say, well, he played two difficult defenses. He led all quarterbacks in QB contact last year. He led all quarterbacks in scramble rate contact last year. It’s just not sustainable, and he is a quarterback who can win from the pocket. I think [there has to be] some tough conversations with Daniels about his style of play with an eye towards his continued longevity because he is too special to absorb this much contact."Mina Kimes via Newsweek
Kimes has a point. Daniels isn't exactly built like Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry. This is the second time he's been hurt after reportedly breaking his rib against the Carolina Panthers last year. Adjusting his approach slightly might help, but until the Commanders establish a genuine rushing attack without him, it seems unlikely.
Taking away Daniels' dual-threat ability removes some of the magic that makes him great. Getting hit is all part of the business. Granted, there are too many violent collisions coming his way right now, but the former LSU standout could get hurt standing in the pocket, too.
It's about measuring the risk versus reward. Commanders fans view Daniels as superhuman, especially when he gets in full flow. At the same time, the need to reduce the risk of sustained beatings on the field is also glaringly apparent.
There is a fine line. Managing it carefully is critical.