Jayden Daniels returns, sparks rally in Commanders' victory - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — The Washington Commanders got the return they wanted. So, too, did Jayden Daniels.

Daniels, playing for the first time in two weeks — and for the first time near his hometown of San Bernardino — reminded everyone the danger he provides to the Washington offense. He threw for 231 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another 39 yards in the Commanders' 27-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.

«It means a lot,» he said. «First game back to be in my hometown. You can't write a better story.

»I dreamt of moments like this."

It was a tale Washington needed. The Commanders (3-2) were coming off a loss to Atlanta and had numerous injuries impacting the starting lineup. Receivers Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown missed the game with injuries. The team needed Daniels to provide a spark.

Daniels missed the past two weeks with a sprained left knee and had to play Sunday with a brace.

But it didn't alter his game a lot: He still carried the ball eight times and took some shots from the Chargers' defense but never stayed down on the ground.

«You all tell me. How did the knee look?» Daniels said when asked about his recovery.

The answer: pretty, pretty good.

«He's got that vibe to him,» safety Jeremy Reaves said, «that under-the-pillow cool. Heck of a player, composed. He can beat you in so many different ways.

»He's a different cat, the one you don't see come around too often."

Daniels, the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024, completed a 50-yard pass to receiver Luke McCaffrey with 34 seconds left in the first half that set up a 29-yard Matt Gay field goal for a 10-10 halftime score. Daniels was patient as McCaffrey ran a post on the right side — and with a defender getting a hand in the quarterback's face as he