When you’re hurt, you often overcompensate to make up for where you are hurting. That’s not just football; that’s with anything, whether you’re an athlete, mechanic, plumber, etc. But imagine being an NFL player, specifically a quarterback. That’s the predicament Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is currently in.
Daniels injured his ribs in a Week 7 win at Carolina. He played just one series before sitting out the remainder of the game. Daniels didn’t practice the following week but did play in the Week 8 win over the Chicago Bears. He completed 21 of 38 passes for a career-high 326 yards, including the game-winning Hail Mary to wide receiver Noah Brown.
Daniels looked limited as a runner but didn’t appear overly impacted throwing the football. However, in the weeks since, Daniels has missed throws he never misses. He’s missing easy routes over the middle — too high, too low, or just wide. It’s very unlike Daniels.
Daniels insists he’s fine, but what do you expect him to say?
Legendary former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Ron Jaworski said this week that Daniels was the best rookie quarterback he’s ever seen.
“He’s the best rookie quarterback I have ever seen,” Jaworski told the 94WIP Morning Show this week via Andrew Porter of Audacy. I’ve seen a lot of them. The guy has been absolutely phenomenal. His calmness, his ability to throw the ball deep, short, his anticipation. I look at his feet; he’s very calm in the pocket.”
Jaworski works as an analyst covering Eagles games these days and saw a different Daniels in Philly’s 26-18 win over Washington on Thursday night.
“The quarterback needs to be protected, and quite honestly, the last couple of weeks, he’s not the same guy that I’ve been looking at for the early part of the season,” Jaworski told BMitch & Finlay on 106.7 The Fan in Washington, D.C. on Friday, via Lou DiPietro of Audacy.
“The quick twitch out of the backfield isn’t there when he’s forced to run or when he’s got defenders attacking him, and that’s because of the injury. I’m not sure if it’s his ribs or chest, but he’s not been the same guy since he’s been hurt, and if you put a wounded quarterback in harm’s way, he’s not gonna perform the way he was. Jayden is the best young quarterback I’ve ever seen, and he’s gonna be a superstar, but if you keep putting him in harm’s way and he’s getting hit the way he’s getting hit, he’s not gonna be around.”
That is a good analysis from Jaworski, who has seen plenty of talented quarterbacks since he first joined the NFL 51 years ago. Daniels isn’t going to admit it or allow others to make excuses for him, but he’s clearly hurting.
The good news for the Commanders is that they had a few extra days off after Thursday’s game. Three weeks from now, they will finally have their bye week, giving Daniels time to get fully healthy for Washington’s playoff push.
