Preseason Week 3 is here and almost over, meaning the NFL regular season is just around the corner.
The Washington Commanders will finish off their preseason against the New England Patriots, having one last opportunity to get some reps in before the season starts. Will Jayden Daniels play?
Will Commanders QB Jayden Daniels Play vs. the Patriots?
As of Friday, Daniels has been named the starter for the regular season but won’t play in the team’s preseason finale. Head coach Dan Quinn announced that Daniels wouldn’t see the field again until the team’s Week 1 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Commanders have started No. 2 overall pick Daniels in both preseason games. In his limited playing time, he completed 80% (12 of 15) of his passes for 123 yards and no touchdowns. He also ran the ball three times for 16 yards and one touchdown. However, his performances included a handful of impressive throws, despite the stats.
SEE MORE: Washington Commanders Depth Chart
While there’s usually competition with rookies for the starting role, that was never really the case with Daniels. After starting training camp by splitting first-team reps with Marcus Mariota, he ended up playing a majority of the snaps within a week. Mariota has recorded just six passing yards in the preseason.
Behind both Daniels and Mariota are Jeff Driskel and rookie Sam Hartman, with these two set to handle most of the game action as Mariota has been ruled out due to a groin injury. Driskel has thrown for 169 yards, zero touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
Hartman, on the other hand, threw for 83 yards and zero touchdowns or interceptions. He missed Week 2 against the Miami Dolphins due to a shoulder injury he suffered in the fourth quarter of the team’s first game.
With Daniels and the team’s starters out, the focus will instead shift to players who are trying to make the roster ahead of cutdowns. According to Quinn, there are less than 10 spots up for grabs, but they’re still there for players to take.
