Jayden Daniels’ two preseason appearances provide little cause for concern, but that doesn’t mean the Washington Commanders’ electrifying rookie quarterback hasn’t made coach Dan Quinn nervous.

Daniels’ 42-yard pass after an audible play last week was the highlight of the electrifying quarterback’s first NFL outing – and prompted the head coach to make a brilliant “Top Gun” analogy. In Saturday’s second preseason game, a 13-6 loss at the Miami Dolphins, the first-round rookie completed 10 of 12 passes (83.3 percent) for 78 yards and put the Commanders within field goal range on his only two possessions.

He also ran into traffic on one play instead of braking and running to safety, which led Quinn back to the theater, where he made a quote from “I Think I’m Going to Be Kicked by a Horse.”

“Yeah, he’s on double secret probation,” Quinn joked.

Getting through the preseason injury-free is every team’s number one goal. That desire is ten times greater for Daniels, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft who won the Heisman Trophy last season. The 6-foot-3 quarterback’s petite frame is not built for hard hits. The hair-raising hits he took at LSU made slipping a major issue for the new coaching staff.

“He will. He will, he will,” offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said this month. “We’ve talked about it a lot, but you love the competitive nature. There’s only a time and a place for it.”

This time, it happened on a second-and-4 attempt from Washington’s 37-yard line on its second possession. Kingsbury called a read option, and Daniels faked the handoff and ran outside just behind the lead block of tight end John Bates. He gained 13 yards but ran into conflict with two Miami defenders before falling to the turf unharmed.

Daniels smiled as he spoke to reporters about the race, calling the decision whether to run or not “a constant struggle” and saying it was a “fine line between knowing when to take risks and when to give up.”

After running a few feet away from the Commanders’ sideline, Daniels heard Quinn say, “Down, down! This is just our little joke.”

There is nothing silly about Daniel’s potential and the faith that Quinn, Kingsbury and others have already placed in him.

“It means a lot to me that they trust me to go out there and play the position,” Daniels said on local television of his 12 pass attempts in two drives. “Put the ball in the right place. Take care of the football. (They let me) play football.”

Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed all five of his pass attempts for 51 yards, including a nifty 13-yard corner toss over Washington cornerback Benjamin St-Juste to River Cracraft for the game’s only touchdown. Defensive end hopeful Jamin Davis, playing against Miami’s third-string linebacker, recorded a strip sack for one of Washington’s two takeaways and four sacks.

“I really felt the running and hitting come to life,” Quinn said.

dismissed ✅
recovered ✅

📺 #WASvsMIA @WUSA9 pic.twitter.com/E9QRJUkDd8

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) 18 August 2024

Washington benched fewer players than it did in its road loss to the New York Jets. The defense was without linemen Jonathan Allen, Daron Payne, Clelin Ferrell, Dante Fowler Jr. and five linebackers led by Bobby Wagner. Wagner’s tag team partner Frankie Luvu flew around the field with little effort and ended up making four tackles.

Quarterbacks Marcus Mariota (groin) and Sam Hartman (shoulder), offensive tackle Brandon Coleman (shoulder strain) and tight end Zach Ertz (personal) were out. Miami played without star receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

Daniels had no trouble adapting to Washington’s fast-paced approach, getting his teammates to the line of scrimmage quickly and reading the defense adeptly. If Daniels doesn’t play in the Aug. 25 game against the New England Patriots at Commanders Field – he will likely sit on the bench – he finished his first preseason 12-of-15 passing for 123 yards, 16 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.

Kingsbury shared his intentions for the plan on Saturday The athletestarting with a desire to show little strategy, knowing future opponents are watching. Basic schemes. Linemen trying to move people at the point of attack without chipping or double coverage. Receivers aiming to win one-on-one duels in space. Game tape will give personnel details on these fronts. Kingsbury’s other checklist item — pushing the tempo — needs no review.

Washington was quick on offenses of 10 plays (46 yards) and 9 plays (52 yards), Daniels was loose, but both possessions ended in field goal attempts from outside the 20-yard line. Kingsbury put Daniels in the line of fire almost exclusively, with variations in formation and personnel.

Unofficially, three-receiver sets were the primary formation, including on two 11-yard power runs by Brian Robinson Jr. to start the second drive. Four receivers is a typical Kingsbury play. That’s what Washington used on a third-and-3 from its 45-yard line, when Daniels flicked Terry McLaurin at the line marker and the receiver broke free for 20 yards. The drive stalled and kicker Riley Patterson missed a 49-yard field goal attempt wide left.

The next possession stretched into the second quarter and took longer than desired as there were two penalties, both against right tackle Andrew Wylie. A holding call on third-and-1 from Miami’s 22 virtually ended any hopes of a touchdown.

Jeff Driskel (11 of 15, 82 yards) followed Daniels and showed off his athleticism with a 41-yard run. Trace McSorley, who only signed on Thursday, nearly scored a touchdown in the final minute, but Mitchell Tinsley couldn’t catch the slightly off-target throw at the goal line. Unless something unforeseen happens, these names won’t play for Washington in the regular season. Although he hasn’t been named the Week 1 starter yet, Daniels is the man, even after once again scaring his head coach.

BIG win for @jeffdriskel ‼️

📺 #WASvsMIA @WUSA9 pic.twitter.com/Mb7E8YNM1y

— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) 17 August 2024

“I thought (Jayden) had a really good outing again,” Quinn said. “Decision on where to go (with passes). He’s really a unique competitor. But yeah, he’s definitely in trouble with the head coach again.”

Further notes on Washington’s second preseason game

• Patterson, who was a perfect 6-of-6 in Thursday’s joint practice, accounted for Washington’s only points on field goals of 46 and 38 yards. He also missed two, the second on a 43-yard attempt, continuing an up-and-down summer. The ex-Jacksonville Jaguar was signed early in training camp and is the only kicker on the roster after the team released Ramiz Ahmed following the Jets game.

Quinn backed Patterson after the loss. Still, the Commanders will add a kicker or two at some point, though they may wait until teams have trimmed their rosters down to 53 players.

• The WR2 competition remains open as candidates were limited to subs. Dyami Brown caught three passes for 19 yards on the opening drive. Olamide Zaccheaus finished with two for 9 yards, while Jahan Dotson’s lone catch on two targets yielded 3 yards.

• Javontae Jean-Baptiste, the seventh-round edge rusher who played ahead of Davis, also had a sack. Washington coaches seem pleased with Davis’ performance as he transitioned from linebacker to defensive end.

• The physical attributes are excellent, as is the 2021 first-round pick’s development this summer. However, he lags behind other defensive ends, including another standout player, KJ Henry. Keeping Davis and Jean-Baptiste is conceivable if Washington is willing to keep six defensive ends.

• The experiment with returners continued. Kazmeir Allen averaged 19.5 yards on two kick returns and 3.0 yards on two punt returns. The Commanders wanted to give the wide receiver a chance at running back, and the speedy opponent managed 13 yards on three runs. Allen also lost the ball on a fumble. Last year’s team had hoped to get Allen on the main roster, but he wasn’t ready. Now there’s another chance. Next week he has to show he belongs in the finale.

(Photo: Kevin Sabitus / Getty Images)