LOVERRO: Daniels, Quinn say no injury, but the rookie has cooled off

Before Jayden Daniels was drafted by the Washington Commanders, fans were concerned about the Heisman Trophy winner’s slight frame and whether someone with his build could survive the physical demands of the NFL.

Now​, paradoxically, ​s​ome ​of those fans are hoping their beloved rookie quarterback is hurt.

The alternative seems more troublesome.

Daniels was injured ​​early in the Oct. 20 game against Carolina and replaced by backup Marcus Mariota, who came in and turned in an impressive performance, completing 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns, leading Washington to a 40-7 win.

Despite a lingering rib injury, Daniels played the following week in the Chicago Bears game and didn’t look impaired, completing 21 of 38 passes for 326 yards and one memorable touchdown pass. He looked fine the week after that, completing 15 of 22 for 209 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-22 win over the New York Giants.

But the following week, he didn’t seem himself in a 28-27 loss to Pittsburgh — 17 for 34 for 202 touchdowns and no scoring passes. Then came Thursday night in Philadelphia, where Daniels may have had the least productive outing of his young career — 22 of 32 completions for 191 yards and an interception in a second straight loss 26-18.

In every game since he was hurt in Carolina, there have been images of Daniels being worked on while on the sideline, with staff adjusting the protection they have around his ribs.

But every time the question comes up about whether his ribs are affecting his play, Daniels and coach Dan Quinn dismiss the notion.  

Quinn said Daniels may have felt some discomfort in his first game back against the Giants, but he emphatically said “no” when it was suggested Daniels was hampered Thursday in the loss to the Eagles.

Quinn doubled down on Daniels not being injured in his session with reporters Monday. “I want to start off by saying clearly — Jayden Daniels is not injured now, “ he said.

Daniels struck a similar note two weeks ago, after the Pittsburgh loss, telling reporters that the injury was “nothing that’s holding me back. I go day to day with it.

“I feel good,” he said. “Week in and week out. I feel good. I feel that I get my body back right, to be able to go out there and play on Sundays.”

Daniels told reporters again last week that he was healthy enough to play. “If I wasn’t I wouldn’t be on the field right now,” he said.

That would make sense.

After all, Washington — now 7-4 — has what appears to be a good option behind center if Daniels could not play in Mariota. If Daniels was compromised, there should be no reason why the coaching staff should put him at risk and the team’s play as well.

On the surface, it is reasonable to believe that Daniels’ play was affected by the simplest of explanations — he is a rookie and was playing two of the toughest defenses in the league. The Eagles were the second-ranked defense in the NFL going into the game against Washington, and the Steelers just held the explosive Baltimore Ravens offense to only 16 points.

I know it may be a bit stunning since we saw Daniels play the position in his first eight games like we have never seen a rookie play quarterback before. And it certainly may be unnerving to consider Daniels may be merely mortal.

But it looked like more than a confused, overmatched rookie against Philadelphia.

Former Eagles quarterback and NFL analyst Ron Jaworski saw something different: He thinks the ribs are affecting the rookie’s play.

“The quarterback needs to be protected, and quite honestly, the last couple of weeks, he’s not the same guy that I’ve been looking at for the early part of the season,” Jaworski told 106.7 The Fan.

“The quick twitch out of the backfield isn’t there when he’s forced to run or when he’s got defenders attacking him, and that’s because of the injury,” he said. “I’m not sure if it’s his ribs or chest, but he’s not been the same guy since he’s been hurt, and if you put a wounded quarterback in harm’s way, he’s not going to perform the way he was. Jayden is the best young quarterback I’ve ever seen, and he’s going to be a superstar, but if you keep putting him in harm’s way and he’s getting hit the way he’s getting hit, he’s not going to be around.”

There were also coaching issues coming out of the Philadelphia game. Why did Quinn go for it on fourth down instead of a field goal trailing 12-10 with about eight minutes left in the game for a potential 13-12 lead? Daniels bobbled the snap and they wound up turning the ball over to Philadelphia, at which point the game changed dramatically.

“Bold call, but I’d say we were prepared for that moment,” Quinn said.

Receiver Terry McLaurin was invisible and finished with one catch for 10 yards. “It happens,” Quinn told reporters.

But the sun remains Daniels, and all else revolves around him. Right now, the sun is being eclipsed.

⦁ You can hear Thom Loverro on The Kevin Sheehan Show podcast.