Jayden Daniels Shines, But Commanders Fall to Jets

The Washington Commanders lost a preseason game on Saturday. But they also feel like they've already won the NFL Draft.

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, drafted second overall last April, threw a perfect pass for a 42-yard completion on his third snap and ended his only drive of the day with a 3-yard touchdown run as the Washington Commanders lost to the New York Jets, 20-17, in their preseason opener at MetLife Stadium.

Playing only the opening series, Daniels lofted a gorgeous pass down the right sideline to receiver Dyami Brown at the Jets' 24-yard line. He later kept the ball on a read-option out of the shotgun, and jogged around the right side untouched for a score and a 7-0 lead. Daniels' touchdown capped an 11-play, 70-yard drive as Washington scored on its first possession of the 2024 preseason.

He finished 2 of 3 for 45 yards, with just the lone rushing attempt.

After Daniels' dazzling debut, backup Marcus Mariota came in for one series before Jeff Driskell took over for the remainder of the first half.

After joint training camp workouts all week, the Jets didn't play veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Backup Tyrod Taylor started, but the Commanders' defense forced two punts on New York's first two drives.

The Jets tied the score at 7-7 when quarterback Andrew Peasley hit receiver Jason Brownlee with a 12-yard touchdown pass to cap an 80-yard drive early in the second quarter. Brownlee got behind Washington's 2023 first-round draft pick Emanuel Forbes for the score.

Commanders' kicker Riley Patterson had a chance to put his team ahead midway through the second quarter, but his 39-yard field goal caromed off the right upright. But on Washington's next possession Ramiz Ahmed drilled a 40-yarder for a 10-7 lead.

The Jets' Greg Zuerlein made a 56-yarder to tie the score on the final play of the first half.

Sparked by another rookie quarterback - undrafted Sam Hartman out of Notre Dame - the Commanders took a 17-10 lead early in the fourth quarter. He scrambled for 17 yards to get the 73-yard drive started and completed a 19-yard pass to third-round draft pick Luke McCaffrey to set up Michael Wiley's 1-yard touchdown run with 11:59 remaining.

The Jets immediately answered with a scoring drive, set up by a 37-yard pass from quarterback to Adrian Martinez to receiver Brandon Smith who got behind Commanders' cornerback James Pierre.

New York won it on Austin Seibert's 37-yard field goal with 21 seconds remaining.

Related: Jayden Daniels Dazzles, Commanders Tied With Jets at Halftime, 10-10

Though it's obviously preseason, the Commanders were at least competitive in head coach Dan Quinn's debut. Last season Washington lost its last eight games and finished 4-13 in getting Ron Rivera fired. The team hasn't won a playoff game since 2005.

The Commanders return to practice next week before traveling to Miami to play the Dolphins Saturday night.