Back in L.A., 'composed' Daniels jolts Commanders

LOS ANGELES -- The Washington Commanders got the instrumentality they wanted. So, too, did Jayden Daniels.

Daniels, playing for the archetypal clip successful 2 weeks -- and for the archetypal clip adjacent his hometown of San Bernardino -- reminded everyone the information helium provides to the Washington offense. He threw for 231 yards and a touchdown portion rushing for different 39 yards successful the Commanders' 27-10 win implicit the Los Angeles Chargers.

"It means a lot," helium said. "First crippled backmost to beryllium successful my hometown. You can't constitute a amended story.

"I dreamt of moments similar this."

It was a communicative Washington needed. The Commanders (3-2) were coming disconnected a nonaccomplishment to Atlanta and had galore injuries impacting the starting lineup. Receivers Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown missed the crippled with injuries. The squad needed Daniels to supply a spark.

Daniels missed the past 2 weeks with a sprained near genu and had to play Sunday with a brace.

But it didn't change his crippled a lot: He inactive carried the shot 8 times and took immoderate shots from the Chargers' defence but ne'er stayed down connected the ground.

"You each archer me. How did the genu look?" Daniels said erstwhile asked astir his recovery.

The answer: pretty, beauteous good.

"He's got that vibe to him," information Jeremy Reaves said, "that under-the-pillow cool. Heck of a player, composed. He tin bushed you successful truthful galore antithetic ways.

"He's a antithetic cat, the 1 you don't spot travel astir excessively often."

Daniels, the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year successful 2024, completed a 50-yard walk to receiver Luke McCaffrey with 34 seconds near successful the archetypal fractional that acceptable up a 29-yard Matt Gay tract extremity for a 10-10 halftime score. Daniels was diligent arsenic McCaffrey ran a station connected the close broadside -- and with a defender getting a manus successful the quarterback's look arsenic helium threw.

Daniels completed the scoring -- and capped a 99-yard thrust -- erstwhile helium backpedaled from pressure, rolled somewhat to his close and lofted a cleanable walk to Deebo Samuel successful the country of the extremity portion for an 8-yard score.

"He conscionable has an X origin astir him," Washington manager Dan Quinn said of Daniels, "on 3rd and 4th downs that helium tin make and marque plays. The past play, helium threw a fantastic walk to Deebo, truthful helium has those spaces successful him."

But what Quinn particularly liked were the times erstwhile Daniels threw the shot distant to debar unnecessary hits. Daniels besides slid astatine the extremity of runs -- thing helium did not bash erstwhile helium got deed successful the genu vs. Green Bay successful Week 2, sidelining him.

Nor was helium flustered by the Chargers' walk rush. According to ESPN Research, Daniels was pressured connected 39% of his dropbacks but completed 4 of 7 passes successful those situations for 88 yards and a touchdown.

"He showed a batch of poise," Quinn said. "He made bully decisions. Sometimes helium threw the shot distant and helium got down. That's thing we talked astir and worked on. Plays that don't amusement up connected the stat expanse but to maine and to him knowing that it's a large woody for america to play astatine our best."

Daniels completed 4 passes for 20 oregon much yards aft having 3 successful the f...