Jayden Daniels needed a couple of days to shake the end of the Washington Commanders’ 27-27 tie with the New York Giants. Marcus Mariota helped him get there, reminding the young quarterback that the best ones all carry a moment like Sunday’s botched overtime finish.
“Marcus [Mariota] kinda told me — I’m not gonna say I’m one of the greats — but he told me every great one has been through adversity in their career, and you gotta deal with it,” Daniels said after practice Thursday in Ashburn. “You gotta learn from it and move forward and not dwell on it or let it affect you.”
A backup who has been there
Mariota speaks from experience. He won the Heisman Trophy at Oregon in 2014, went No. 2 overall to the Tennessee Titans in 2015 and lost his job in Nashville after six starts in 2019.
Daniels’ own mistake came with 12 seconds left in overtime and no timeouts. He took a sack in the field of play, and the clock ran out before Washington could spike the ball, ending a game that should have been a win. He usually gives himself 24 hours to move on from a loss. “It might have been a little [more like] 48 hours for me,” Daniels said. He also shielded head coach Dan Quinn and his staff as questions about Quinn’s job grew louder. “Don’t even put it on the coaches,” Daniels said. “I gotta be…more aware, go out there and manage the game.”
Mariota has earned a voice in that room. He started two games while Daniels recovered from a dislocated elbow and has thrown for 340 yards with four touchdown passes and no interceptions this season, and he led the 33-31 win over Seattle for the team’s only victory.
The next test arrives Monday night at Levi’s Stadium against the 5-0 San Francisco 49ers, with a bye waiting on the other side. Quinn sounded ready to turn the page. “We’ve learned lessons now. We’re gearing up for a great challenge Monday night against San Francisco,” Quinn said, per the Associated Press this week. Daniels gets his first chance to show he has moved forward against one of the league’s last unbeaten teams.
More on the Washington Commanders
- Commanders Named Landing Spot for Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh’s Odd Man Out at Quarterback
- What Happened to Mike Sainristil Since His Two-Interception Playoff Run for the Commanders?
- Washington Commanders Have an Adjustment Problem They Can’t Ignore
- Is Dan Quinn’s Job Safe After the Commanders’ Overtime Clock Disaster?
