Commanders' 'Worst-Case Scenario' Has Jayden Daniels Flavor

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Adam Schultz | Last updated Jun 11, 2025 10:28 PM ET

Washington Commanders' quarterback Jayden Daniels took the NFL by storm in his rookie season as he led the team to a 12-5 record, won two playoff games, and made the NFC Championship game.

However, as we mentioned previously, despite all the good Jayden did, there was one major issue that was a constant theme in 2024 - he got sacked a lot.

A total of 47 sacks in the regular season had Daniels as the sixth-most sacked quarterback in football, and with his slender build, that is a recipe for disaster.

We have already seen that play out with his rib injury forcing him to be sidelined for part of one game last season, and for CBS Sports, in what they call a worst-case scenario, Jayden's running ability gets him into some physical trouble.

"Daniels' do-it-all gifts come with a cost, as the dual threat can't stay on the field to meet lofty Year 2 expectations, and Dan Quinn is subsequently left to lean on aging placeholders as the rival Eagles stay rolling," CBS Sports writes.

As a runner, Daniels is devastating, but given his slight build, when you have linebackers and safeties chasing you down the field, they are tackling to put Daniels through the turf.

With Laremy Tunsil now the left tackle, the hope is that Daniels is protected better than he was last season, because 47 sacks isn't a sustainable way for a quarterback to live in the league.

If Daniels did go down with an injury as a result of his running ability to get sacked consistently, Washington's season would likely go down the drain with him.

So the message going forward for Jayden is a simple one: don't take unnecessary hits.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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