Commanders’ Jayden Daniels Continues Breakout

The Washington Commanders solidified their hold on the NFC East with an impressive 42-14 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4. With a revamped roster led by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, Washington has exceeded preseason expectations and now sits at 3-1. The Commanders' defense was suffocating, holding the Cardinals scoreless for nearly three full quarters after their opening drive touchdown.

However, the bigger storyline continues to be the emergence of Daniels , who has rapidly become a dual-threat sensation. Through four games, Daniels ranks second in rushing yards among quarterbacks with 218 yards, trailing only Baltimore Ravens’ Lamar Jackson. In the Commanders’ win over Arizona, Daniels added 47 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown, bringing his total to four rushing touchdowns on the season.

Daniels is now leading all quarterbacks in rushing touchdowns tied with running backs Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles and Jonathan Taylor of the Indianapolis Colts. With his current pace, Daniels is on track to surpass 920 rushing yards for the season, a mark that would shatter the rookie quarterback rushing record of 815 yards set by Robert Griffin III in 2012. He is also on track to break Cam Newton's record for most rushing touchdowns by a rookie quarterback which sits at 14.

While his passing stats continue to develop , it is Daniels' ability to extend plays with his legs that has drawn comparisons to some of the league’s elite dual-threat quarterbacks. His contributions have been instrumental in Washington’s rise to the top of the NFC East, ahead of the 2-2 Cowboys and Eagles.

Related: Commanders Dominate Cardinals 42-14

Now, the Commanders turn their focus to the Cleveland Browns, who are currently struggling with a 1-3 record. The Browns have allowed an average of 21.8 points and 123.3 rushing yards per game this season. The Commanders will look to capitalize on these weaknesses as they aim to build their win streak and continue their dominance.