LANDOVER, Md. — Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, a linebacker for the Cleveland Browns, will likely envision reaching out to tackle Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels in his dreams this week.

However, instead of bringing down the rookie quarterback, Owusu-Koramoah allowed Daniels to slip away – once more.

Daniels deftly evaded Owusu-Koramoah, who was bearing down on him, and sprinted smoothly up the right sideline. He took advantage of two additional Browns defenders who misjudged their angles, easily passing by them. Ultimately, he was pushed out of bounds after a 34-yard gain that converted a fourth-and-3 for Washington during the first half, contributing to their commanding 34-13 victory over the Browns on Sunday.

“I need to figure out how to secure that sack in the first half; it’s something I’ll think about,” Owusu-Koramoah reflected.

Daniels, the recent Heisman Trophy recipient and the second overall pick in the 2024 draft, earned the NFC Rookie of the Month title. His mobility was a key aspect of the Commanders’ offensive strategy during Sunday’s game. Although he rushed for more yards (88) in his Week 1 debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, his impressive 82 yards on 11 carries this time gave him an average of 7.5 yards per carry, showcasing his best performance in his fifth professional game.

In another play, both Owusu-Koramoah and safety Grant Delpit had an open chance to sack Daniels. However, the quarterback cleverly backpedaled, causing the two defenders to collide. Daniels escaped to his right, advanced to the line of scrimmage, and launched a deep pass downfield to wide receiver Terry McLaurin, resulting in a remarkable 66-yard gain.

“I was just playing the game, reacting to their movements,” Daniels explained. “After executing that scramble play to Terry, it seemed to alert them, like, ‘We need to cover our players more closely.’ This allowed me to gain some edge on a few runs.”

Daniels’ contribution to the running game is advantageous for Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Only the Baltimore Ravens, the Commanders’ next rivals, have recorded more rushing attempts (172 to 168), rushing first downs (56 to 52), and total rushing yards (1,056 to 892) than Washington. The Commanders lead the league in rushing touchdowns and are tied with the Ravens and Arizona Cardinals for the most runs exceeding 20 yards (8).

Crucially, Daniels ran smartly against the Browns, stepping out of bounds when necessary to avoid hits while maximizing yardage gained; he was sacked three times but skillfully avoided taking big hits.

According to Commanders head coach Dan Quinn, Daniels’ knack for making significant plays and achieving first downs without relying on passing can be “demoralizing” for opposing defenses. Quinn described the Commanders’ offensive play as “grimy” at the beginning of the game. Daniels confessed he wished he could take back a few passes.

Following Daniels’ big throw to McLaurin, Owusu-Koramoah managed to catch the rookie off guard, resulting in a goal-line interception – marking the second consecutive week Daniels has thrown a pick. Despite this, he completed 14 out of 25 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown, following a historic start to his career where he achieved an 82.1% completion rate, the highest ever for a quarterback in their first four games.

“He processes things quickly,” Quinn remarked. “‘Okay, this is how they will play, and this is how we will respond.’

This quick thinking led Daniels to score his touchdown. After rushing out of bounds for a three-yard gain on the prior play, he realized that the Browns were in man coverage, allowing him to capitalize.

“As I turned back around, I thought, ‘Let’s go for it’ and told (offensive coordinator) Kliff (Kingsbury),” Daniels recounted, “and he then called the play.”

This play enabled wide receiver Dyami Brown to outrun his defender down the sideline. Daniels delivered the ball flawlessly for a 41-yard touchdown, reminding everyone why his arrival has been a transformative element for the Commanders, now boasting a record of 4-1 for the first time since 2008.

Daniels stands out as the first player in NFL history to achieve over 1,000 passing yards and 250 rushing yards in his first five games. The LSU alum’s passing ability is undoubtedly noteworthy, but even when his aerial performance wasn’t at its peak, Daniels found ways to make a significant impact for his team.

(This story has been updated with new information.)