1 week Ago
The Washington Commanders jumped out to a 7-0 lead on Jalen Hurts and the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday before entering the halftime locker rooms with a 7-3 lead at Lincoln Financial Field. The first half was noteworthy not just for the score but also for the fact that the Commanders are being led by Jayden Daniels, a rookie quarterback in a hostile environment. Daniels stands out for many reasons on the football field, chief among them his efficiency as both a runner and especially a passer.
The LSU rookie had a 68.7 percent completion percentage as of Thursday night, on par with Joe Burrow, Kirk Cousins and other quarterbacks with far more experience and accolades. According to announcer Kirk Herbstreit, there is another quality that sets Daniels apart and makes him a true franchise quarterback according to inside Commanders sources.
Nov 14, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels before action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Herbstreit also praised Washington's leadership for the offseason changes they made that have made the team a contender in the NFC East. "You know they knew that with what they inherited, things had to change, and they went through that last year and made some changes," Herbstreit said on the Eagles vs.
Commanders broadcast while including announcer Al Michaels in the conversation. "They hired a great coach, changed the culture, and I think being able to pick Jayden Daniels up, you know what that does, Al." Daniels won the Heisman Trophy last year with Brian Kelly's Tigers and is 23 years old, still in his rookie season in Washington.
"You get a quarterback your entire franchise believes in, and they say behind closed doors how he treats everybody has been a game changer so it's not just what he's doing on the field," Herbstreit added. The Commanders also got props from Michaels, the longtime Monday and Thursday Night Football broadcaster. "Almost every move they've made has paid off, a lot of credit to Adam Peters the GM," Michaels said.
Related: Al Michaels Gave Unintentional Nod to Cris Collinsworth During 'TNF'.
