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The numbers confirm what’s becoming clear: The rookie quarterbacks for the Commanders and Bears can both play.
Williams and the Bears are 4-2 and coming off their bye week, which followed their most impressive showing yet, a 35-16 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London. Williams completed 23 of 29 passes, had 226 passing yards and became only the fourth rookie quarterback to toss at least four touchdown passes and run for at least 50 yards in a game.
Coupled with his 304 passing yards against the Panthers on Oct. 6, Williams has shown a comfort level in offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s scheme that seemed to be missing in the early weeks.
The Bears’ protection up front was initially poor this season — Williams was sacked 13 times in Weeks 1 through 3 — and its running game was ineffective, averaging 73 yards per game to rank 31st in that span. Williams also had five of his six turnovers in those first three weeks.
But with adjustments to the offense — Waldron met with the team’s leadership council after that Sept. 22 loss to the Colts — the Bears have recently been humming.
Daniels, meanwhile, has played like a veteran almost from the outset with his decision-making behind the line and pinpoint accuracy. His 10 touchdowns (six passing, four rushing) are the most among rookies through Week 7, and his 372 rushing yards are the second-most among quarterbacks, trailing Lamar Jackson.
Daniels’s expected points added (EPA) per dropback, essentially a measure of a quarterback’s added value on pass plays, is a league-high 0.29, compared with Williams’s negative-0.06 (21st).
Few can throw a deep ball or escape a free rusher like Daniels, which is largely why Washington has 50 explosive plays (a rush of 10-plus yards or a pass of 20-plus).
Quinn said during this period Daniels was inside working on strengthening and conditioning his core area. He later joined the session for full-team drills. Quinn said there were no limitations on Daniels on Friday and he called it a “good day” for his rookie passer.
When he was at practice, Quinn said they tested his ability to scramble and make throws as well as his sudden movements vs. a blitz or other pressure.
Daniels did not practice Wednesday and Thursday. But, Quinn said, they followed the plan they laid out for Daniels at the beginning of the week — including for Friday.
“You have to push it to see where you’re at,” Quinn said. “He keeps knocking down the steps and now we’ll [go] through them again [Saturday].”
Daniels said he’s confident the organization will make the right decision about him playing Sunday.
The Athletic (paywall)...
