Jayden Daniels enters the 2026 season determined to rebound from a difficult 2025 campaign when injuries limited him to just seven games. The Washington Commanders quarterback, who won Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024, threw for only 1,262 yards with eight touchdowns as the team went 5-12, reversing their NFC Championship Game success from the previous year.

The Commanders are implementing a new offensive system under coordinator David Blough, replacing Kliff Kingsbury. Daniels will take more snaps from under center after attempting just 18 passes from that formation in his first two seasons. The quarterback displayed comfort with the new approach during recent OTA sessions, executing play-action passes and bootlegs effectively.

Daniels brings previous experience taking snaps from under center from his college days at Arizona State. Teammates note his command of the system, with guard Sam Cosmi praising his offseason preparation. Coach Dan Quinn highlights Daniels' mental quickness as a key asset in learning the new scheme quickly, helping the offense build confidence for the upcoming season.

The coaching staff wants to see more urgency from Daniels and the offense in huddles and at the line of scrimmage. Quinn calls him "one of the fastest learners" and emphasizes his ability to make difficult plays look easy. Daniels embraces the challenge, expressing enthusiasm for working with Blough to develop the offense together.