Quarterback Jayden Daniels is more secure in the second season of offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's scheme. That comfort has allowed him not only to take more risks but has also given him the opportunity to take on more responsibility as a leader on offense.
After Monday's training camp practice, Daniels chatted with Bryan Colbert Jr. on an episode of Command Center about what being a leader looks like for him.
"It just happened naturally," Daniels told Colbert, discussing his increased leadership. "I don't really focus on it too much as far as that, but I pick and choose my spots of when I need to say something and when I need to speak up and when things aren't right."
Things weren't right during the Commanders' 48-18 loss in New England on Aug. 8. With the first preseason showing left much to be desired, Daniels' teammates -- especially quarterback Sam Hartman -- still looked to him for advice, despite him not dressing out for the matchup.
"I think it's just the same thing, same message," Hartman said. "Like even in practice, he'll tell me, 'You'll have your day, just keep battling. Keep going and don't really focus on the result.' It's more so about the process and everything. Control what you can control. Once the ball leaves your hands and stuff like that, you can't really control it."
Aside from Hartman, Daniels has made an impression on the rookie class and shown they can seek him out for advice. Daniels is only in his second season, so he can easily relate to how the rookies feel. He knows how to bring first-year players, like undrafted free agent receiver Ja'Corey Brooks, a sense of comfort and belonging.
"He always chats with me when I'm crossing in the halls," Brooks said of Daniels after practice Saturday. "On the field also, too, he'll let me know where to be at and he's the quarterback so why not listen to him?"
Daniels' progression as a leader also means becoming more vocal. He started amplifying his voice early in camp, making headlines when he sent a teammate to the sideline and out of the huddle committing a false start penalty.
Part of being a strong leader is adjusting and finding ways to make your voice heard even when you're not on the field. The hardest part for Daniels, however, wasn't the leadership aspect, but rather the toughness that comes with watching your teammates play the game without him.
"I ain't going to lie, it was tough," Daniels said. "I wanted to play. But, to be able to support them and go out there and have fun, and see everybody out there making plays, I was super excited for that part."
Being on the sideline, however, gave Daniels an opportunity to lead by example. Instead of holding his head in his hands, Daniels kept his energy up and continued encouraging his teammates.
"Just energy and effort to see what I could do," Daniels said of how he guided his teammates from the sidelines. "But it's nothing like being on the field at the end of the day."
The game against the Patriots was "sloppy," as head coach Dan Quinn put it, and Daniels recognizes it wasn't to Washington's standards. Daniels will have the opportunity for his leadership to be on full display against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night.
"We're going to go out there and we're going to compete hard," Daniels said. "We're going to play to win but we're going to live up to the standard this time. That wasn't our standard last game."
The last time Daniels was matched up against the Bengals was arguably the game that solidified him as a legit quarterback. The Week 3 game saw Daniels' highlight reel night culminate in a 38-33 victory. He set an NFL rookie completion percentage record with a 91.3% completion rate, nailing 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards.
Despite it being a preseason battle this time around, the reps against Cincinnati are nonetheless still important. It will be the first time Daniels takes the field for his sophomore season, and it will also be a good first test at offensive leadership against a defense other than his own.
"According to some guys, I'm still a rookie," Daniels joked. "And by some guys, I mean Bobby [Wagner]. So, he still sees me as that, but just I played, I got some experience and I'm just trying to go out there and help people as much as I can."
To watch Daniels' full interview with Washington legend Santana Moss, check out Command Center on commanders.com.
