Commanders' preseason Week 1 inactive list puts QB Jayden Daniels at risk

Save a prayer for Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels.

The Commanders revealed their inactive list for their Week 1 preseason game against the New York Jets on Saturday (12 p.m. ET), and it doesn't bode well for Daniels' first NFL action.

As ESPN's John Keim noted, three of the team's top six offensive linemen won't play.

Before the inactive list was formally announced, Keim revealed offensive tackle Cornelius Lucas would miss due to personal reasons. Two other tackles, Andrew Wylie (tightness) and Brandon Coleman (undisclosed), also won't suit up.

The Commanders were poor in pass protection last season. Former quarterback Sam Howell was sacked 64 times, the most in the league. ( h/t PFF )

On Tuesday , first-year head coach Dan Quinn announced that Daniels would start Washington's preseason opener. It's debatable whether that's a good idea with three of the team's top tackles sidelined.

At LSU, where Daniels won the Heisman Trophy (2023), he took some brutal hits, including these two against Florida State and Ole Miss, respectively.

Saturday's preseason opener could be valuable practice for Daniels to get the ball out quickly. Per data from Pro Football Focus , Daniels' average time to throw last season was 2.94 seconds, which ranked 53rd among 57 quarterbacks with at least 400 dropbacks.

With the Commanders depleted at offensive line, Daniels might learn his lesson the hard way.