Jayden Daniels grinned and pointed to the Washington Commanders' sideline while jogging to the New York Jets' 24-yard line after launching a 42-yard dime to Dyami Brown.

Technically, Daniels wasn't given permission to make the check that led to what head coach Dan Quinn called "an absolute dime." Quinn said Daniels wanted to ask for forgiveness and not permission, referencing a moment in the movie "Top Gun." The play ended up working out, though, and it provided the rest of the NFL with a look at what Quinn and his staff have seen for weeks.

"It was a really cool play; I think it probably illustrates for him the awareness in the checks and the things that go into it," Quinn said. "Yeah, he did not ask for permission, so he went ahead and buzzed the tower anyways. It was a really cool play."

Daniels was only on the field for 11 plays in the 20-17 preseason loss to the Jets, but it was enough to leave Quinn and the team impressed by him. He finished the day 2-of-3 for 45 yards and a rushing touchdown, giving the franchise optimism for the future.

"It was fun [to] go out there and play football, play at the highest level," Daniels told reporters. "That was pretty much it, just go out there and have fun."

Daniels led the offense on a 70-yard drive to give Washington a 7-0 lead over the Jets, who sat 28 players – the majority of whom were starters -- on Saturday, most of which was gained on his pass to Brown. It was third-and-6 with Daniels in the shotgun formation, and the play was originally intended to be a screen.

But Daniels noticed that "everybody's within five yards of the line of scrimmage," so the play was not likely to be successful. His coaches have also told him throughout his time with the team that he should make a check if he didn't like the look. So, he changed the play from a screen to a go-ball down the right sideline.

Daniels dropped back to the 24-yard line, held the ball just long enough to hold the Jets safety in the middle of the field, planted his foot and fired the ball to Brown, who was working against cornerback Jarrick Bernard-Converse in tight coverage.

It was a tight window, but just big enough for Daniels to thread the ball to Brown for the reception.

"I feel like it just gives everybody confidence moving forward," Daniels said. "Obviously, not just me, but being able to connect with Dyami down the field. I know that gave him confidence ... just seeing those little steps that we need to take in order to be successful and execute at a high level."

Daniels' second completed pass was a swing pass to Terry McLaurin for a three-yard gain. That helped move the offense down to the Jets' 3-yards line, where Daniels kept the ball on a read-option play and scampered for the end zone.

Daniels made sure to give the ball to his mom after the play.

"It was awesome," Daniels said. "Obviously, she was very excited, and I was happy just to be able to get my first touchdown and just throw it to her. So, I know she's happy."

Quinn said after the game that Daniels "just had a real command of things," albeit in limited action. As sharp as Daniels looked, though, Quinn added that he's not putting "a lot" of stock into one drive in a preseason game. There are still some things Daniels must do before being named the starter. His first assignment on the flight back to the DMV: find out what he could have done differently and what he wants to do moving forward.

"I asked them [the team] on the plane ride home tonight to make some notes down [on] what would you change, anything to tweak going into Miami," Quinn said. "So, that's your first lap, have that warm up, what did that do, what did all of that look like going into the game and so I think that's an important process for he [Daniels] and for all the first-time guys to go over. I thought he had a really good first part of it."

Still, it's clear that Daniels presence is having a reverberating effect on the entire offense. And it has his teammates believing that this season could be different.

"He was calm and collected. It was really impressive. We were like, 'Dang, that was really fun.' Everybody should be excited, just from that little sneak peek. I know I am. I know the guys are fired up. I think we got a dude back there."