5 major observations from Jayden Daniels' performance vs. the NY Giants
By Dean Jones
Jayden Daniels' scary moment
Jayden Daniels is an outstanding runner with the football in his hands. This is something the Washington Commanders want to utilize as part of their balanced attack. There are also some potential concerns regarding unnecessary punishment if the offensive scheme becomes too one-dimensional.
There was a scary moment for Daniels in the first half when he took a huge hit to the rib area and was left flat on his back in severe pain. Thankfully, the dual-threat weapon missed just one play before going back into the lineup, but it's a sign of what could occur if he doesn't protect himself effectively.
Daniels should be allowed to play with a sense of freedom and expression. However, the need to avoid heavy hits and be a little smarter cannot be overstated. All it takes is one wrong collision to completely change the franchise's course given what they invested in the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
This should be a wake-up call for Daniels and the Commanders. Taking the necessary steps to ensure he stays relatively out of harm's way is crucial moving forward.
Jayden Daniels' red-zone struggles
Moving the football wasn't a problem for the Commanders, for the most part. Their difficulties came in the red zone where they failed to turn opportunities into touchdowns.
If there was one positive to take from the game, it's that Austin Seibert looks like someone capable of solving the Commanders' kicking woes. But this was a lot closer than it should have been thanks to failings inside the 20-yard line.
This wasn't all on Daniels. There were silly mental errors that led to penalties in crucial moments. The timing wasn't where it needed to be with his wide receivers, but it's also worth remembering that red-zone chances were scarce in Week 1. This was always a work in progress.
The Commanders are in no position to be spurning so many red-zone gifts. Daniels needs to be more composed and Washington needs a better plan in place upon reaching the business end of the field. Anything less isn't going to do them any favors over the 2024 campaign.