Jayden Daniels wrote himself into the record books as he continued his historic rookie season.
The Washington Commanders quarterback was 26 of 30 passing for one touchdown with one interception in a 42-14 win against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4.
Daniels broke newly-paid Dallas Cowboys superstar Dak Prescott’s rookie record 88.9 percent completion rate together with his mark of 91.3 percent in Week 3.
And he matched one other Prescott feat as only the second first-year signal caller to realize a passer rating of 90 or higher and completion percentage of 70 or higher in 4 consecutive games on Sunday.
Daniels finished the Cardinals game with a 86.6 percent completion percentage and a 96.3 passer rating.
Through his first 4 games as a professional he has an 82.1 completion percentage.
That is the very best ever (minimum 75 attempts) for a rookie, beating Tom Brady (2007, 79.2), Geno Smith (2022, 77.3), and Kyler Murray (2021, 76.1).
Any query marks hanging over Daniels ahead of the season mostly surrounded his arm talent and small stature.
But there have been no doubts in regards to the former LSU Tiger’s ability together with his legs.
Heisman winner Daniels racked up 47 yards on the bottom for one TD against the Cardinals to make more history.
His 218 yards rushing yards thus far this season are the second-most over a rookie’s first 4 games.
He moved ahead of Daunte Culpepper, Charlie Batch, Randall Cunningham, and Steve Young, but former Washington star Robert Griffin III stays out in front with an incredible 234.
| Robert Griffin III | Washington | 234 |
| Jayden Daniels* | Washington | 218 |
| Steve Young HOF | Tampa Bay | 193 |
| Randall Cunningham | Philadelphia | 186 |
| Charlie Batch | Pittsburgh | 177 |
| Daunte Culpepper | Minnesota | 175 |
RG3 was chosen with the second pick within the 2012 NFL Draft and looked set to turn into the NFL’s next big thing at quarterback.
But one mistake derailed what might have been an incredible profession.
Aiming to go 8-6, Griffin was forced off with a knee injury against the Baltimore Ravens, with Kirk Cousins replacing him to encourage an extra time win.
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The rookie missed just one game and returned for a playoff clash with the Seattle Seahawks despite not being medically cleared.
He tore his ACL and began just 20 more games for Washington – winning five – as his profession nosedived.
Meanwhile, Cousins has $280 million in profession earnings after securing a big-money move to the Atlanta Falcons this offseason.
Long-time NFL journalist Mike Silver told the PardonMyTake podcast a few behind-the-scenes incident involving the pair.
“You’ll do not forget that game that 12 months where RG3 gets hurt (against Baltimore) and now Kirk Cousins who that they had also drafted that 12 months, has to play in Cleveland,” Silver explained.
“They usually (Washington) run a more traditional Shanahan game-plan. With plenty of boots, fake hand-off, the roll-out…and Kirk Cousins goes wild in that game they usually win.
“So now, here’s the post-game scene: Dan Snyder barrels through the locker room, goes right past Kirk Cousins – who’s having this glorious moment – almost steps on him to get to Robert Griffin and say to him ‘Hey, don’t worry, it’s okay, you’re still my guy.’ And Kirk is just standing there…it’s super awkward.
“While this is occurring, RG2, Robert’s father, who was very involved has in some way managed to get into the locker room and he’s throughout Mike Shanahan.
‘Why didn’t you call any running plays?’ And Mike was like ‘He (Cousins) can run on those boots, he just selected to throw.’ ‘We would like to run those plays with Robert!’
“So Robert comes back too early, probably because he’s threatened by that. That playoff game where he ends tearing up the knee and that’s the start of the top, was horrible, but in most individuals’s minds he’ll get surgery and are available back they usually’ll construct on this and it can be amazing.
“But at the top of the season, Mike Shanahan finally ends up recommending to Dan Snyder, Bruce Allen the GM, and the opposite owners, that they need to trade Robert now.
“‘We all know he’s not likely what people think he’s, the league goes to catch up and it’s not going to work out the best way you think that. His value is amazing – we’d have the opportunity to get back the three ones we gave up and we are able to play with Kirk.’
“Mike Shanahan has all of it discovered – like that is one of the best idea ever – and it didn’t go over well.”
To this point, it has been plain sailing for Daniels, but he doesn’t must look far to see how quickly a dream can turn into a nightmare within the NFL.
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