Jayden Daniels, Commanders Taking 'Day By Day' Approach?

As rookie debuts go, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has one of the tougher ones coming Sunday when the Burgundy and Gold take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Just don't tell him that.

As Daniels prepares for his debut as the former second overall pick, the former Heisman Trophy winner is making sure his mindset doesn't change as he enters a new league with new expectations.

"It is really the same," Daniels said Thursday. "Day by day, be where my feet are. Not really focused on Sunday. I got to get through Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and then it'll be game day."

Washington enters Sunday's game as three-point underdogs to the defending NFC South champions. Tampa Bay has a history of running complex defensive schemes under head coach Todd Bowles that can confuse even the most elite quarterbacks in football.

It's why Daniels knows as debuts come, he has one of the toughest of all the rookie quarterbacks starting in Week 1. Even if he isn't too concerned about it.

"I mean, it's kind of just go out there and just playing football," Daniels said. "Obviously, I'm [going to] embrace the moment, take it in. I'm officially in my first NFL game, but once that ball kicked out, none of that matters. So, gotta focus on try to execute at a high level and go out there and try to help the team win."

Related: Commanders' Dan Quinn Lofty (Irrational?) Goals For Offensive Line

A win for the Commanders would be an important first step for the organization to prove they are further ahead in their rebuilding process than originally thought.

And that Daniels might just be the savior after all.