Daniels has bulked up, plans to shoulder more as he tackles first offseason practices

Jayden Daniels couldn’t wait to put a helmet on again. The Commanders’ star quarterback’s wishes were granted on Wednesday when he took the field in Ashburn, Virginia, for voluntary organized team activities, the next phase of the team’s offseason program.

The second-year player joked before practice with cornerback Mike Sainristil and flashed a signature smile throughout the day.

Even back-to-back interceptions during seven-on-seven drills couldn’t break Daniels’ stride. It didn’t hurt that the turnovers weren’t his fault — one ricocheted off his receiver’s hands while the other saw a pass-catcher fall down just before the ball arrived.

How could he hang his head? After nearly four months away, he was finally back on the field with his teammates.

“I love football,” Daniels said. “So, it’s very refreshing to go out there and practice, have some fun.”

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said his signal-caller had to be practically pried away from football during the offseason. The two are in constant contact, sharing texts and calls when they aren’t in the building.

“His mind is never very far away from the game,” Kingsbury said, noting that he implored Daniels to unplug as much as possible.

Without practice to keep him busy, Daniels found himself in the gym throughout the spring. When he returned to the building, he raised eyebrows with a few extra pounds of muscle packed onto his slim frame.

“I was just in the weight room working out,” Daniels said sheepishly before insisting that he wasn’t sure how much weight he added. “You always try to improve in different areas.“

Though the Commanders’ quarterback fought through a few injuries during his rookie year, including a nagging rib issue, his coaches didn’t ask him to gain any weight. The reigning Rookie of the Year just wanted to keep in shape.

“I think he’s still pretty lean, you know, but he’s definitely worked really hard with his fitness and in the weight room,” Kingsbury said. “I don’t see his weight, but I’m sure that he’s a little bit thicker than he was.”

His teammates have noticed, too. Center Tyler Biadasz mentioned that his quarterback had set a goal before the offseason. It looks like he reached it, the offensive lineman said.

“Today he had no sleeves on,” linebacker Frankie Luvu joked on Wednesday. “He’s putting the work in. It’s definitely good to see the fruition, especially putting in the work this early.”

But the growth isn’t limited to his bicep measurements. Daniels isn’t a rookie anymore. The extra muscle is a symptom of his broader impact on the team.

“He’s an amazing teammate. The amount of work that he puts in that goes unseen,” coach Dan Quinn said. “There is no flinch in Jayden Daniels. He is as focused and relentless as you could [be] about getting better.”

With an influx of rookie skill players alongside free-agent and trade acquisitions, Washington’s young quarterback is flexing his leadership muscles. Now a veteran, he said he’s helping the new blood get up to speed.

Daniels leads by example as a dogged competitor and gym rat. His coaches have long lauded him for being the first player in the building in the mornings and one of the last to leave.

This year, the LSU product will enjoy the benefit of continuity within the franchise. The Commanders retained almost all of their coaches, including offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, who was routinely mentioned as a head coach candidate.

That should help Daniels avoid the dreaded sophomore slump.

“It’s huge. I think you look traditionally through the NFL, the guys who have had a ton of success have been able to stay in those  [systems] long-term, the all-time greats. Just the comfort level, you being able to take ownership of it, understand the inside now,” Kingsbury said. “Now, you’re correcting people. You don’t even need the coaches.”

NFL quarterbacks often grow by leaps and bounds between their first and second seasons. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Baltimore Ravens passer Lamar Jackson won MVPs in their second campaigns, firmly planting themselves as franchise players.

Daniels is looking to join their ranks.

Kingsbury noted that the growth shows in processing. A young passer becomes better equipped to read a defense before the snap and make adjustments at the line of scrimmage.

“If anything, it’s just being comfortable,” Daniels said of his upcoming second season. “I’m familiar with the play-caller, the way they call plays. You know what we’re trying to accomplish: play in, play out.”

The offensive coordinator said his dual-threat signal-caller has improved his arm strength as well.

But according to Daniels, his approach on the field and in the locker room won’t change, even if he is a year older and a bit thicker.

“Just continue to be myself,” he said.