Daniels listed as Commanders' QB1 to open preseason
Jayden Daniels is making an excellent impression on the Washington Commanders during his first NFL training camp.
The Commanders listed the 2024 No. 2 overall pick as the top quarterback on their first unofficial depth chart. Daniels will start the team's first preseason game Saturday against the New York Jets, with head coach Dan Quinn saying the passer "earned that right," according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post.
"I had high expectations coming in, but he has surpassed those," Quinn said about Daniels, according to JP Finlay of NBC Sports.
Quinn complimented Daniels' readiness for the NFL and added that teammates gravitate toward him, per ESPN's John Keim.
The LSU product began camp sharing first-team reps with veteran Marcus Mariota but seems to have taken the lead in the quarterback battle.
Daniels isn't the only Commanders rookie opening the preseason in a starting role: Third-round pick Brandon Coleman is also getting the nod at left tackle.
Daniels won the Heisman Trophy in his final season at LSU after throwing for 40 touchdowns and adding another 10 scores on the ground.