Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels addressed the media after practice on Aug. 4. Here is a full transcript of the press conference.
On how much he is looking forward to playing in the first preseason game versus the New York Jets:
"I just love playing football, so I'm happy about it. I mean, I always knew I was going to play. I don't know when I'm going to play but at least I have the opportunity to go out there and play, so I'm excited for it."
On the growth he can see from WR Terry McLaurin:
"I mean, Terry's an exceptional player. Obviously, he made a name for himself in this league, so to be able to build a rapport with him, the other receivers, the whole offense as a whole, and have us as a tight knit group so we could go out there and we could go compete, have fun and everybody could be on the same page."
On what age he started having a big fan base:
"Honestly, probably last year at LSU was when that kind of start happening. But I try to give back as much as possible because you never know whose day you can make. I remember I was one of those kids wanting to get one of my favorite players' signatures. So, just to give back the opportunity and see the joy on their face and help make somebody's day, maybe I could impact their life. So, I try to do that as much as possible."
On his connection with LB Bobby Wagner:
"Me and Bobby from the same hometown. We are both from the Inland Empire, so we kind of have that connection off rip and I mean we don't even talk about football half the time. I mean, sometimes I might go up to him and say like, 'What'd you see?' But other times he'd be like, 'oh, I got a sack.' Or I'll be like, you know, we're competing, we're talking shit. But most of the time it is really about basketball, everything we talk about. So that's a connection that me and Bobby have."
On his excitement to play against the New York Jets:
"Like I said, it's football. I'm very excited, I love the game of football. I love playing it. I'm very passionate. I love to compete. So, going out there would be a different challenge for not just me, but the whole team going against somebody you're not familiar with. Just to see where the cards fall, know that we can go out there and we can make mistakes when you try to
execute at a high level, but that's kind of what this time is for, you know. Just to go out there and see what we can do, what we can't do, trial and error, and move forward."
On if he's noticed a difference in his transition from the college to pro level:
"Yeah, I mean just the little things and the details. And [Head Coach Dan Quinn] DQ he harps very much on the game situation, game management, stuff like that. So, learning the different rules of the NFL from college because obviously it's different and just trying to expand my knowledge as far as just playing the position, not just what is in our system, but playing the position, knowing like in a four minute situation we got to do this or in two minute stuff like that."
On if there are things that he's looking to find out about himself and the offense playing against the Jets:
"Nah I mean, how sharp can we be? How fast can we execute our offense? Limit the pre-snap penalties and post-snap penalties and just go out there and try to execute a high level. I mean, it's my first one ever so I don't know what I'm getting myself into, so it'd be a surprise for me, but just go out there and have fun."
On if the team has gone through a routine of what gameday will look like:
"I mean, we haven't gone that far deep like QB's out at this time, stuff like that. So I know we'll get there, but I assume it's similar to college."
On what he hopes to gain going against the Jets secondary:
"Go out there and see where I'm at. Challenge myself, challenge their defense. Obviously, they got a very good secondary, very good defense. See where we see where we stand."
On him and QB Sam Hartman's connection coming into Training Camp:
"We both came together, we're both rookies. It's a blessing to have somebody I'd known prior in the same room as me. And obviously now we're building a connection with the other two QBs in Marcus [Mariota] and Jeff [Driskel] and the whole room is great from the coaches to the players."
On how he plans to showcase his skills while also protecting himself:
"I mean, just knowing when to take your chances when you can't. Live to see another play. It's a long season, so try to err on protecting yourself and if the chances are there, go and take it."
On if he talks with the coaching staff on when he should be taking chances with plays:
"Me, I'm very competitive, so I might try to take a chance here and there, but they try to say get down. So, it's trying to fight that battle."
On how his game has grown since the start of training camp:
"Yeah, I feel like just getting more comfortable in the system as a whole unit. Going against the defense that we have, the players that we have. Obviously, veteran leadership and [LB] Bobby [Wagner] and [LB] Frankie [Luvu], and [DT] Daron Payne, JA [DT Jonathan Allen], those type of guys. So, it's iron sharp and iron at this point."
On how the offense is clicking and on where it can go:
"Yeah, I mean the run is going to be very important. We got to be able to establish a run and show that with the more physical team on the line of scrimmage, and that's where the game is won and lost in the trenches."
On if he knows he's ready to be the starting quarterback:
"I still got some way to go. Just little stuff, go out there and still compete. Obviously, what Coach DQ [Head Coach Dan Quinn] and them said, but at the end of the day, it's their decision. I trust them fully with their plan and stuff like that, bringing me along. So, that's up to them at this point. But for me, I just go out there and [say], 'How can I better myself each and every day?' And just go out there and compete hard."
On where he's making progress:
"Yeah, I feel like the whole unit as a whole from the ones, the two's to the three's, whoever's in there is making progress and getting comfortable in Kliff's [Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury] system."
On how the leaders on the team have embraced him:
"Yeah, they treat everybody the same. Whether it's me, [CB] Mikey Sainristil, [QB] Sam Hartman, everybody gets treated the same. So, it's not, 'Oh, well I got drafted higher than everybody else, we got to put more on this plate.' No, we are all treated equally, so, everybody just allows each other to be themselves at the end of the day. It's not that you got to come in, act like you're somebody you're not. You could go in and be yourself and it's an open communication, open locker room. We love to have fun."
On if he is starting against New York and on if he has any family or friends coming to the game:
"I know I'm playing. I don't know if I'm starting or not, but my family going to be there regardless. It's my first game, as far as in the NFL, my first snap. So, my family's going to be there and they going to be at everything."
On what he's enjoyed the most from the whole process:
"Being able to live out a childhood dream and play the game that I love at the highest level, and make my family proud for the sacrifice, they helped me get to this point. Without them, or friends, ex-coaches I wouldn't be at this position to come out here and live out my dream. So, to be able to make them proud and go out here and have fun."
On what goes through his mind before a throw:
"It's kind of a feel thing. I can't really explain it, but when I was at Arizona State, [Head] Coach Herm Edwards told me, if you want to play in the NFL you got to protect the football all times. So, that's something I pride myself in, is being able to protect the football and help the team win. Because, obviously if the other has more [takeaways] than you, obviously it's not a good thing."
