Commanders’ Jayden Daniels is ready to quiet the critics entering his third NFL season

Ashburn, Va. (AP) — Jayden Daniels, the Washington Commanders' quarterback, aims to silence his critics as he enters his third NFL season. After a magical rookie year, Daniels' sophomore season with the Commanders, who finished with a 5-12 record, was underwhelming. He appeared in just seven games. Now, pressure mounts for Daniels and the Commanders going into the 2026 season.

His durability has been questioned, and his offensive line has been average at best in training camp. In the preseason, the starters played only three snaps, and Daniels was pressured or sacked on both drop-backs. Offensively, the Commanders are expected to change significantly under new offensive coordinator David Blough, who prefers quarterbacks to spend more time under center.

Daniels, who has never done so before, has been working hard to learn a new system. Coach Dan Quinn is confident in Daniels' ability to adapt. The Commanders have added new skill players, including Stefon Diggs and Chig Okonkwo. Daniels has formed a solid chemistry with Diggs, who believes Daniels can put the ball anywhere and use his legs. Daniels trusts his receivers to make plays and aims to be the playmaker when necessary.