Jayden Daniels enters this season with plenty to prove, and Chase Daniel thinks the Washington Commanders may have made the kind of offensive change that helps him answer every doubt.
On the Pat McAfee Show, Daniel said the pairing of Daniels and offensive coordinator David Blough is the matchup he’s most eager to watch around the league this season. He pointed to the pro-style ideas, the creative wrinkles, and a heavier dose of Daniels operating under center as reasons the Commanders could be in line for a real offensive jump.
"This is gonna be a new look offense for the Washington Commanders..
You're gonna see a lot more at the line of scrimmage from Jayden Daniels..
The way he gets thru his progressions is excellent" @ChaseDaniel #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/UP07A3hbPD
- Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 3, 2026
That kind of confidence comes with a clear reason. Daniels flashed enough in his 2024 rookie season to remind everyone what kind of talent Washington has at quarterback. But after missing so much time last season, he slipped out of the spotlight while other quarterbacks from the 2024 draft class piled up the headlines.
Drake Maye reached the Super Bowl with the New England Patriots. Bo Nix would potentially have been there with the Denver Broncos instead, if not for an unfortunate injury during the playoffs. Caleb Williams led the Chicago Bears back to the postseason, while Washington's franchise player completed just four games.
That’s the backdrop for Daniels’ year: a redemption run, a chance to quiet the noise, and an upcoming season that also leaves him extension-eligible once it’s over. With that kind of money potentially waiting down the road, the pressure is obvious.
Washington’s decision to hand the offense to Blough was a bold one. He doesn’t bring play-calling experience, and he wasn’t even a permanent quarterbacks coach in Washington until Tavita Pritchard took the head-coaching job at Stanford. Still, the move was made with Daniels’ development in mind.
Blough believes his system can get Daniels back to thriving, and the setup around him is supposed to help too. He won’t have to carry everything on his own, even if losing five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil is a hit. The expectation is that the Commanders can lean into Daniels’ dual-threat ability without asking him to do everything.
There are still concerns outside the building. Washington didn’t build much momentum over the final two weeks of summer, and Daniels appeared in only one failed preseason drive. Some wanted more reps after his long absence in 2025.
But those doubts haven’t changed the internal view. Once Blough fully opens up the offense, Washington expects to show a different side of itself, with Daniels leading the way.
If the summer edge he’s carried with him holds into the regular season, the Commanders could look a lot more dangerous than they did a year ago.
In Other News...
Commanders Face One Big Week 1 Problem Before Brutal Start
The early stretch of Washingtons 2026 schedule leaves little room for easing in, and the Commanders are already dealing with a familiar kind of September concern: availability. They open on the road against Philadelphia and Dallas, and the injury list has already taken a bite out of both lines, with star left tackle Laremy Tunsil and defensive tackle Johnny Newton sidelined for now.
There is some good news in the recent return of several key players to practice, including Daron Payne, Marcus Mariota, Jacory Croskey-Merritt and KLavon Chaisson. Odafe Oweh is also working back from a calf injury and is expected to be close to full practice soon, which gives Washington at least some hope that the defense can get healthier before the opener. What matters next is whether that progress comes fast enough to steady a team facing one of the leagues toughest starts right out of the gate. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Kicking Battle Just Brought A Tough Roster Decision
The Commanders kicking competition ended with a notable shake-up in camp, as undrafted rookie Drew Stevens won the job and pushed incumbent Jake Moody off the roster. It is the sort of decision teams hope to avoid late in the summer, but Washington clearly decided the rookie had earned the chance, giving Stevens one of the 32 NFL roster spots available to kickers.
Moody has since landed on the Baltimore Ravens practice squad, while Stevens is left to savor a path that once began as a preferred walk-on in college. For a young specialist, making an NFL roster is a hard climb under any circumstances, and Stevens described the moment as a chance he is grateful to have, even as the real test of his NFL future is only beginning. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Rookies Are Forcing A Bigger Week 1 Debate Than Expected
Training camp has given Washington a clearer look at its 2023 draft class, and it has also created a real conversation about how soon some of those rookies might matter. Linebacker Sonny Styles, wide receiver Antonio Williams, edge rusher Joshua Josephs and running back Kaytron Allen have all spent the summer trying to carve out roles, with the staff sorting through different levels of progress as preseason work continues.
What makes the evaluation interesting is that this does not look like a class destined for one simple label. Some of the rookies appear better suited to immediate contributions, while others may need more time before they fit into the regular-season plan, and those distinctions can shift quickly once the games start counting. For Washington, the Week 1 picture is still taking shape, and the rookies are pushing to make it a tougher decision than expected. [Read more 🡒]