Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has expressed no concerns about head coach Dan Quinn’s decision to withhold the announcement of a starting quarterback as the team begins training camp.
“I like competing, I’m a competitor,” Daniels said Friday, according to JP Finlay of NBC4 Sports. “Regardless if I’m announced as the starter or not, I still have to compete. You can’t be content with your job or (be) comfortable. So for me, it’s not a problem at all.”
Daniels added: “It’s up to DQ (Dan Quinn) and AP (general manager Adam Peters) for the decision, but for me, I can control how hard I practice and I compete.”
During the early days of camp, Daniels and Marcus Mariota have been sharing first-team reps, as reported by John Keim of ESPN. Mariota has typically led team drills, while Daniels has been first in seven-on-seven and situational drills, such as red-zone and two-minute scenarios.
Mariota, who was signed to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million, served as a backup to Jalen Hurts last season with the Philadelphia Eagles. He last started with the Atlanta Falcons in 2022 but was benched in favor of Desmond Ridder after 13 games.
Daniels, selected as the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has made a positive impression early in camp. Head coach Dan Quinn commented on Daniels’ performance, saying, “We have an effective plan for him and Jayden is the type of guy who wants to go nail it. We’ll stay true to this. We’re not too far down the line of where we’re headed and we’re staying in the moment with him and that helps. He’s doing outstanding,” according to Keim.
Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner, had a standout college season with LSU, amassing 4,946 total yards and 50 touchdowns, leading the Tigers to the top-ranked offense in the FBS.
Commanders offensive lineman Andrew Wylie praised Daniels, stating, “He’s a great leader of this offense. He’s truly a gunslinger. He can do it all, man. The sky’s the limit for that kid,” as reported by Stephen Whyno of The Associated Press.
