Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Commanders OC explains how Jayden Daniels turned terrible play call into TD

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated Sep 12, 2024 1:37 PM ET

On Thursday, Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury told reporters he made "one of the worst" play calls of his career during the team's Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

Despite the apparent miscue, Kingsbury described to the media how rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels turned it into a Commanders touchdown.

Kliff Kingsbury on Jayden Daniels: "I called one of the worst plays I've ever called in my career, and he just took it and ran into the end zone."
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 12, 2024

Kliff Kingsbury said Daniels scored despite "one of the worst play calls in my career." Said he called a speed option with no check and TB overplayed it. But KK loved that Daniels stuck his foot in the ground and cut back and ran "a couple guys over." Showed "competitive spirt."
— John Keim (@john_keim) September 12, 2024

The words from Washington's first-year coordinator come as Daniels was also named the season's initial NFL Rookie of the Week on Thursday.

The first @pepsi Rookie of the Week of 2024 is... @JayD__5 pic.twitter.com/OFbsXuUM9s
— NFL (@NFL) September 12, 2024

The No. 2 overall pick was an efficient 17-for-24 for 184 passing yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding 88 rushing yards and two scores via 16 carries. Daniels fumbled three times in the 37-20 defeat but didn't lose any of them.

The reigning Heisman Trophy winner's first rushing touchdown came on a one-yard quarterback keeper with 1:52 left in the third quarter, bringing the Commanders within 23-13. Daniels again found the end zone from one yard out in the fourth quarter, this time on third down with 1:12 remaining in the game to make it a 37-20 final.

Kingsbury is plenty used to leading an offense with a mobile quarterback. He was the Arizona Cardinals head coach during the first four years of Kyler Murray's career from 2019 to 2022. Murray rushed for 2,261 yards and 23 touchdowns in 57 games under Kingsbury's guidance. He was the 2019 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year and a two-time Pro Bowler from 2020-21.

Victor Barbosa

Victor Barbosa is a passionate follower of MLB, the NBA and NFL, with a deep interest in Boston-area teams. He graduated from Springfield College -- The Birthplace of Basketball -- in 2013 with a degree in Communications-Sports Journalism. Previous bylines include FanSided, Heavy and Syracuse

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