Dan Quinn explains why Jayden Daniels has ‘extra hunger’ entering Commanders season

Jayden Danielsdidn'thave much during his second NFL season. Injuries marred his follow-up toa rookie of theyearcampaignwhere the Commanders reached the NFC title game.

The quarterbackmissed10totalgamesdue to a knee sprain, a hamstringstrainand anelbow dislocationthat wassubsequentlyaggravated.The former No. 2 overall draft pick played in seven games and finished only four, leaving Washington too often without its best talent.

Thatthe Commanders went 5-12wasnoshock considering the circumstances, but itdidn'tmake the season any easier.

Daniels holds himself to a high standard. Availability is wrapped up in that.

Head coach Dan Quinn has found Daniels as motivated as ever this spring, hellbent on returning the Commanders topreviousform.

It was the most frustrating year of his young career playing football, with the injuries and missing time and having to go through that," Quinn said during a Thursday appearance on theRich Eisen Show.Any time anyone goes through that, there is a little extra hunger that comes back.That'shuman nature whether a guy is coming back from an injury orpoor performance,there'susually an edge.That'sallcompetitors. I definitely feelthatwith him.He'sanelite competitor, but to add a little fuel to the fire,there'snothing wrong with that. I can relate to that. Foraaguy who is an elite competitor,there'snothing wrong with turning up the heat a little bit."

Daniels' motivation can be good for the2026Commanders, especially if it canhelpextractbetter play. Quinn will try to stoke the fire, but not by using outside narratives orcritiques.

It's more about the time at practice, the location of the ball, the accuracy and those types of things," Quinn said. When you're trying to be excellent, can you push the standards that you're wanting to go compete with. It's an internal one, not any narrative from the outside. We know what he's capable of, and I'm qualified to make that push."