Washington Commanders linebacker Bobby Wagner has seen it all. Now in his 13th NFL season, Wagner has played 198 regular-season games and is a future Hall of Famer.
Wagner has seen plenty of rookie quarterbacks over the years. He entered the NFL with Russell Wilson in 2012 and has played against countless others. When he signed with the Commanders in March, he knew he’d be playing with a rookie quarterback but didn’t know it would be Daniels until the NFL draft.
Daniels was selected second overall and has taken the NFL by storm. He’s broken numerous rookie records and has the Commanders at 8-5, in prime position to make the playoffs after the team finished 4-13 one year ago.
So, when did Wagner realize Daniels wasn’t your average rookie quarterback?
“Honestly, in OTAs,” Wagner said Tuesday on the “Pat McAfee Show.
“He was coming in so early, like so early, to put in work and learn the playbook. And then, it was probably our first practice in training camp where we lined up against each other, and he started talking trash. And I was like, ‘Ok, he feels confident in the playbook. We watched him putting in the work, so he earned the right to be confident. Once we saw him in the preseason, saw how he moved and decisions he was making, he does with it with humility, which I respect a lot. So, we knew pretty early on.”
“I knew that Jayden Daniels was gonna be special in OTAs..
He was coming in so early to learn the playbook and then our first practice he started talking trash..
He earned the right to be confident because he puts in the work” ~ @Bwagz #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/TfmQGLqruD
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 10, 2024
So, does Daniels try to talk s–t to Wagner?
“Of course,” Wagner replied. “And he’s not a match. I was in the same locker room with Richard Sherman, and Richard wasn’t beefing with me.”
All of Washington’s veterans have praised Daniels since his arrival. While his success on the field helps how his teammates view him, it’s his preparation and work ethic that has most endeared him to coaches and teammates.
