Daniels impresses at minicamp, but Quinn declines to name starting quarterback

Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn refused to name a starting quarterback on Thursday, the last day of the team’s mandatory minicamp.

The first-year coach still praised rookie signal-caller Jayden Daniels before the team embarked on a five-week summer break.

As the final team activity before training camp, the practice resembled the last day of school for the Commanders. Players’ families visited and enjoyed face-painting and a bounce house while the athletes on the field shared in friendly, but intense, competition.

“A lot of people would say this is the end of the offseason program,” Quinn said. “In a lot of ways, I see it as just our beginning in what we can be about and what we have.”

Coaches and teammates have singled out Daniels, the No. 2 pick in April’s NFL draft, throughout the offseason. After taking second-team repetitions during last month’s voluntary workouts, the LSU product worked with the starters Thursday.  

“He really has a very firm handle on the things that we’re doing, but he also has the humility of a young player,” Quinn said. “What a rare and really cool combination that is.”

The coach still stopped short of naming his highly-touted rookie as the starting quarterback for the season. He says there’s plenty of time to make that decision.

“[Daniels is] further along than you probably should be … There’s no doubt that Jayden is making unbelievable progress here …  he’s earned that opportunity to go compete,” he said. “We wouldn’t have given him those reps if he hadn’t. It was really clear that he’s put in the work and he was ready.”

The coach noted that the team “owes it to ourselves” to allow for competition throughout the summer.

“We’ll have a really fun camp,” Quinn said.

Daniels has received the royal treatment in the D.C. area in recent days. The 23-year-old was on the sideline of a U.S. soccer exhibition match and threw out the first pitch at Nationals Park over the past week.

But he says he doesn’t feel any extra pressure.

“I mean, I ain’t a star quarterback yet. I got a long way to go,” the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner said. “I’m a rookie.”

Quinn said the offseason work put in by players is showing up on the practice field.

“Over the last two weeks, I felt this momentum shift,” Quinn said. “You’re seeing the skill and the execution going up.”

After training full-speed for months, the often-intense Quinn urged his players to step away from football during the summer break.

The 53-year-old said the time off is good for coaches, too.

“It’s important for the coaches too to recharge the battery and make sure as we’re coming to camp, we’re really ready to give these players our best,” Quinn said. That’s what it’s all about.”