Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels had been the toast of the Washington Commanders this 2024 NFL season. But Thursday Night Football against the surging Philadelphia Eagles was his toughest challenge yet.
Daniels struggled throughout the game, posting just 191 passing yards on 22/32 passing, one interception, and a touchdown in garbage time. His performance and critical turnovers led to a 26-18 loss, and one NFL legend wasn’t afraid to call him out.
Shannon Sharpe Gives Take on Jayden Daniels’ Subpar Performance
Former Denver Broncos tight end and three-time Super Bowl champion Shannon Sharpe wasn’t having any of Daniels’ mediocrity. The rookie quarterback didn’t seem like himself. Two costly mistakes proved game-changing: a failed fourth-down rushing attempt deep in Eagles territory, followed by an interception that led to a Saquon Barkley touchdown.
Sharpe tweeted, “Early pressure has gotten Daniels constantly throwing off his back foot. This is the worst I’ve seen him play as a pro.”
Early pressure has gotten Daniel’s constantly throwing off his bck foot. This is the worst I’ve seen him play as a pro
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe)
Daniels’ subpar performance gave way to rumors about his rib injury sustained in Week 7, which seemed likely to be the reason that hampered his ability to perform under the spotlight.
However, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn dismissed concerns about Daniels’ rib injury impacting the former LSU quarterback. “Early on, he was. Probably the first game back, he started trending for sure better. But I think it is fair to say that the first game after Carolina, I’m not sure who that one was against, but that’s an injury that tends to get better.”
Dan Quinn is asked if Jayden Daniels is still dealing with discomfort from the rib injury. The tl:dr answer is no. pic.twitter.com/lnTfX6ZXu6
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig)
Adding to the drama, Daniels suffered a cut on his throwing hand during the game, though he downplayed it afterward, saying, “I’m straight, just got a little cut. I can’t even tell you, sometimes it’s football.”
Jayden Daniels on the cut hand. pic.twitter.com/BzTAaKtqvM
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig)
While Daniels tried finding his footing, the Commanders had their moments. They were the better team for three quarters, restricting the Eagles to six points. However, the fourth quarter saw the wheels fall off, with the Eagles scoring 20 unanswered points. Washington’s offense, which had leaned heavily on running back Austin Ekeler (89 receiving yards), couldn’t keep pace.
The loss is a setback for Washington, but at 7-4, they remain firmly in the playoff hunt. Quinn’s men have six games left, including four against teams outside the postseason picture. The Commanders have a golden opportunity to rebound.
