Jayden Daniels and other players speak to the media before practice
The Washington Commanders held their first practice of the week, a light walkthrough in the practice bubble. They are preparing for a road trip to Philadelphia to face the Eagles in the NFC Championship game. The Commanders had a lot of media at today’s practice, and made a lot of players available to reporters to discuss Sunday’s big game.
Jayden Daniels has the opportunity to be the first rookie QB to play in a Super Bowl, but he’s not worried about that, he’s focusing on improving every day. This is his third game against the Eagles, and he’s never lost to the same team twice. He was dealing with a rib injury during the first game against Philly, but came back in Week 16 to put up 36 points on one of the best defenses in the league.
Daniels talked about playing clean football, and Washington has been very good at protecting the football over the last two weeks. He has only thrown one interception, and the Commanders turnover differential has been critical to their playoff success. The Eagles defense, under new DC Vic Fangio, have been a problem for teams all season. Daniels said he’s got those guys flying around, and being able to make adjustments on the fly will be critical to succeeding against the talented group.
Jayden Daniels
LIVE: QB Jayden Daniels, TE Zach Ertz and WR Terry McLaurin speak to the media https://t.co/OdCdIYoQwH
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 22, 2025
Jayden Daniels beginning his press conference pic.twitter.com/yoh7RMpcuN
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 22, 2025
Playing clean football:
Jayden Daniels says his focus is playing clean football and giving the Commanders the best chance to win pic.twitter.com/rueSbec0iQ
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 22, 2025
Potential to be the first rookie QB to play in a Super Bowl:
Jayden Daniels on the possibility of becoming the first rookie QB to start in Super Bowl:
“Man. I’m not even thinking that far. It would obviously be a blessing but I’m just focused on how can I be better day by day.” pic.twitter.com/G9FafRVCVz
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) January 22, 2025
Jayden Daniels on what it’d mean to him to be the first rookie QB to start in the Super Bowl: “I’m not even thinking that far. It’d be a blessing if it happened, but I’m just trying to focus on how I can get better day by day.”https://t.co/Yf3IvQPLlO
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 22, 2025
Jayden Daniels: “It’s a blessing to make it this far.” pic.twitter.com/Si8rrpCrsV
— George Wallace (@GWallaceWTOP) January 22, 2025
More media attention for NFC Championship week:
Jayden Daniels on increased media presence: Obviously it’s the final 4 so you could get out of wack but you just got to stay in the routine. Keep the main thing the main thing.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 22, 2025
Eagles DC Vic Fangio:
Daniels on the Eagles D: “Vic Fangio has those guys flying around.”
— George Wallace (@GWallaceWTOP) January 22, 2025
Defensive adjustments this week:
#Commanders Daniels is anticipating some different looks from the Eagles on Sunday but the game plan remains the same this week. Emphasis is on execution and preparing to make changes on the fly come game time. @7NewsDC pic.twitter.com/OxJRetCdNs
— Natalie Spala (@_nataliespala) January 22, 2025
Big hits:
Jayden Daniels on why he smiles after taking hits:
“It’s football, you gonna get hit. I’m not hurt. If somebody gets a good hit on me, man it’s a good hit and move on to next play”. pic.twitter.com/dheSOxAPE6
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) January 22, 2025
Terry McLaurin
Terry McLaurin at the mic pic.twitter.com/V95jPe6H9z
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) January 22, 2025
Job’s not done:
Terry McLaurin on the Commanders playoff run:
“It’s been great to be apart of this but we’re not really celebrating or reminiscing because the job’s not finished” pic.twitter.com/Ut0JNvbMrN
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) January 22, 2025
Jayde Daniels, the Terminator:
Terry McLaurin on JD5 being the “terminator”:
“He’s locked in … he stays as even keel as any player I’ve been around” pic.twitter.com/rUCdVYk5xK
— Mitchell Tischler (@Mitch_Tischler) January 22, 2025
Dan Quinn:
Terry McLaurin said during Dan Quinn’s first meeting he told the players “if you’re a dog-ass competitor this is the place for you.”
“I sat up in my seat and smiled,” McLaurin said. “That’s what I’ve been itching for.”— John Keim (@john_keim) January 22, 2025
Commanders standard:
“That Commander standard is nonnegotiable.” – @TheTerry_25 pic.twitter.com/fSQHubgJUe
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 22, 2025
Zach Ertz
Advice for NFC Championship game:
Zach Ertz’s advice to teammates who haven’t been to an NFC Championship pic.twitter.com/NSGoBfKgc5
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) January 22, 2025
Playoffs pressure:
Zach Ertz on heightened pressure as the playoffs continue – Every week is championship week. pic.twitter.com/ZwkwcNdKeH
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 22, 2025
Winning formula:
Zach Ertz : “Same things that win you games in the regular season, will win you games in the postseason.” pic.twitter.com/5B1PCoxuzN
— George Wallace (@GWallaceWTOP) January 22, 2025
Jayden Daniels:
Zach Ertz on Jayden Daniels: “It’s his approach that sets him apart.” pic.twitter.com/vYDRFvgKYG
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 23, 2025
Frankie Luvu
Blocking Jared Goff:
Frankie Luvu on the Jared Goff hit during the Quan Martin pick-six:
“No intentions of me trying to, you know, block in any way. Just trying to get my boy in the endzone. And, like I said before, hope he’ll be alright…” pic.twitter.com/PYfcVbFhfv
— brandon (@JayDanielsMVP) January 22, 2025
Saquon Barkley:
Frankie Luvu on Saquon Barkley – He’s one of the best ever to play the position but every game we play is going to be a dogfight. We run and we hit.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 22, 2025
Playing fast and aggressive:
Frankie Luvu on his mindset playing fast and aggressive between the white lines: pic.twitter.com/WNMZQPlo2S
— Mitchell Tischler (@Mitch_Tischler) January 22, 2025
We have a chance:
#Commanders Frankie Luvu said he asked some of his teammates if they thought they’d make it this far in the season, days away from the NFC Championship.
Their answer: pic.twitter.com/OJEr9xpEsW
— Natalie Spala (@_nataliespala) January 22, 2025
Daron Payne
Underdogs all year:
The stage is set for the NFC Championship game.
Washington vs. Philly
Commanders DT Daron Payne told me, “we’ve been the underdogs all year…we know if it’s going to be a dogfight then we might come out on top.” pic.twitter.com/vh95ZZQRke
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 22, 2025
Clelin Ferrell
Underdogs:
Guess what? The Washington Commanders are the underdogs once again.
That’s just fine with them.
Commanders DE Clelin Ferrell told me, “it’s been that way…I think we have proven we are who we say we are. We got to go out there and do it again on Sunday.” pic.twitter.com/GfoKHA8i2Q
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 22, 2025
Marcus Mariota
Jayden Daniels:
Commanders backup QB Marcus Mariota has played a big part in the success of Jayden Daniels.
His experience and knowledge have been invaluable to Jayden all season long.
I spoke with Marcus about his friendship with Jayden and being ready for Sunday. pic.twitter.com/w1ArOp61qC
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 22, 2025
Dyami Brown
Consistency:
One of the unsung heroes with this Commanders playoff run has been Dyami Brown.
The WR has stacked back to back standout performances.
Dyami told me, “for me, it’s just staying consistent. Keep that focus going and just help the team out the best way that I can. pic.twitter.com/jNE302b2In
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 22, 2025
Jamison Crowder
Just lock in and take it one play at a time:
How can you not be happy for guys like Jamison Crowder?!
Ten years in the NFL and Sunday will be his first Conference Championship game.
Jamison told me, “don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself. Go out there and play the game…just lock in and take it one play at a time.” pic.twitter.com/jcQckXRMG6
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 22, 2025
Brian Robinson Jr
Momentum:
Will Washington be able to run the ball against the Eagles?
Brian Robinson Jr. stepped up big time against Detroit, he’s ready to do it again versus Philly.
BRob told me, “perfect time to catch some momentum…continue to fuel that fire.” pic.twitter.com/bGFY13vIXQ
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 22, 2025
Ben Sinnott
Playoffs as a rookie:
This Washington Commanders rookie class has been fantastic.
What a start to all of their NFL careers. NFC Championship game in year one is not too shabby.
TE Ben Sinnott told me, “there’s guys in this room where this is their first playoffs and this is their 10th year.” pic.twitter.com/yFFrzyj8YX
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 22, 2025
Tress Way
Confidence:
Commanders punter Tress Way is the longest tenured player on the team.
He’s about to play in his first NFC Championship game.
Tress said, “we are really confident, we can play football really well…we just got to go play them in one game and we’ll see what happens.” pic.twitter.com/9Esb22BTnK
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 22, 2025
Jeremy Reaves
Returning to Philly for the NFC Championship game:
Jeremy Reaves loves that they’re playing the Eagles — the first team he was with — in the NFC Championship Game: “My career started there but this place became my home.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 22, 2025
LIVE: S Jeremy Chinn, S Jeremy Reaves and CB Mike Sainristil speak to the media https://t.co/ixKKjt4rgT
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 22, 2025
Mike Sainristil
Eagles offense:
Mike Sainristil on the Eagles: “They have weapons everywhere.” pic.twitter.com/XA80FY05zk
— George Wallace (@GWallaceWTOP) January 22, 2025
Underestimated:
Mike Sainristil: “We’re underestimated. Teams might think they’re better than us or a newer team …. outside noise doesn’t matter to us. We believe in who we are and that’s all that matters.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 22, 2025
Falling in love with the process of winning:
.@MikeSainristil on @MagicJohnson‘s message to the team pic.twitter.com/Wgzr3XSavm
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 23, 2025