5 major observations from Jayden Daniels' performance at the Cardinals

Jayden Daniels' first big mistake

Jayden Daniels wasn't going to go through an entire NFL season without giving away an interception. That's an impossible feat. Something that proved accurate with the first giveaway of his professional career in the second quarter at State Farm Stadium.

Daniels made the right read on the throw. The Arizona Cardinals were in Cover 2 and Terry McLaurin had a mismatch on the inside route. Unfortunately for Daniels, his attempt was a little high and behind the Pro Bowl wide receiver. He was punished accordingly after defensive back Garrett Williams came down with it.

The Commanders' defense bailed him out. Daniels was unphased by the turnover, shrugging it off and continuing about his business as all good quarterbacks do. Not that there was any doubt about that considering his flawless mindset and calm demeanor throughout his time in Washington so far.

Focusing on the next play whether it goes well or not is another fine trait Daniels put on full display in this one. One interception wasn't going to alter that.

Jayden Daniels' first half support system

Aside from the interception, it was a solid first half from Jayden Daniels. He didn't seem phased by anything the Cardinals were throwing at him, going through his progressions quickly and taking advantage of opportunities when they arose. It wasn't perfect, but this is a player in his fourth competitive NFL game, so it was never going to be.

Kliff Kingsbury schemed things up effectively once again. He got Daniels into an early rhythm, didn't give him too much to do behind a strong rushing attack, and got his playmakers in a position where their signal-caller could find them. More importantly, Washington went into the interval with a 17-7 lead on the road.

Daniels' first-half performance was reflected in the statistics. Nothing too flashy, but more than enough to get the job done with such an efficient operation alongside him.

• 84.61 percent completion
• 95 passing yards
• 0 touchdowns
• 1 interception
• 28 rushing yards
• 0 sacks against
• 65.1 passer rating (ESPN)

No quarterback can - or should - do it alone. Rookie quarterbacks often get thrown into toxic situations without the correct support system in place. It seems for all the smart money as if Daniels has landed in the best possible atmosphere to thrive.