Jayden Daniels Reacts To His Commanders Debut

On Sunday, the Washington Commanders began their season with a 37-20 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It's not exactly the beginning Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels envisioned after all the offseason hype.

He played well in the game connecting on 17-of-24 passes for 184 yards and added another 88 on the ground and two rushing touchdowns.

Following the game, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner seemed very calm and collected.

"Once that ball was snapped, it goes away and you are playing football again. It's the same game I've been playing since I was a kid," Daniels said. "Even though the stakes are higher, I still revert to the time when I was 7 years old playing against my friends."

He will get to play against one of his best friends next week when they host the New York Giants. Malik Nabers was one of Daniels’ main targets at LSU and was taken just four picks behind him in the draft.

Related: Jayden Daniels' Commanders Debut Ruined By Bucs In 37-20 Loss

Even though the Commanders flew home with a loss, that doesn’t really phase this year’s No. 2 overall pick.

"You have to be able to have a short-term memory, refocus for the next play," Daniels said. "I'm past it tomorrow. It doesn't matter no more. We're on to New York."

The Commanders will host the Giants this Sunday at the newly named Northwest Stadium in Landover, MD. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.