Jayden Daniels Goes Down; Injury Update from Halftime vs. Giants

When the New York Giants' young standout Kayvon Thibodeaux questioned whether Sunday's Week 2 meeting sending his team to Washington to the Commanders represented a "rivalry'' ...

Was he being ignorant? Was he being arrogant? Or maybe - as some who've watched this first half might argue - what he meant is that these two teams simply aren't good enough to be included in any haughty talk.

Of course, not even a bad first half erases history. Coming into Sunday, these two ancient franchises have played one another 184 times. As it happens, the Giants lead the head-to-head series 108-71-5. That's a fact.

Meanwhile, these Giants - bad as they were and are - swept the Commanders last season and New York has won three in a row in this series. That's a fact.

Oh, and in the head-to-head? The Giants are 7-2-1 over the past 10 games, and 4-1 in five meetings at FedEx Field. That's a fact ... and maybe that is the frame of reference for young Thibodeaux.

But what is "a fact'' right now at halftime? Washington is up 12-9 with rookie QB Jayden Daniels doing some dazzling work with six carries for 31 yards and an 11 of 13 start as a passer. Oh, and one near calamitous injury.

Daniels was out of the game, but only for the moment ... putting on display the talents that might someday make him the "rival's nemesis.''

What Thibodeaux said this week: "Washington, in particular, they’re not really a rival, but they’re an in-conference … in our same division, so it’s always a great game. We see them twice a year. So, I'm excited.''

These two teams right now certainly look like "equals,'' with New York managing the game's only two TD (... from Devin Singletary followed by a missed PAT and then, seconds before the half, from Malik Nabers on a Daniel Jones toss ... followed by a failed 2-point try.

Related: Commanders vs. Giants 'Not A Rivalry? Kayvon Doesn't Get It

Is Washington supposed to be making Thibodeaux "eat his words''? Hard to say and hard to do when the Commanders probably don't even know what his words meant. But they do know who their meal ticket is ... and they have exhaled after a short Daniels injury scare.