Jayden Daniels' Mom Calls for End to RGIII Comparisons After Son’s Injury
The Washington Commanders suffered a double whammy on Sunday. Aside from getting manhandled by the Dallas Cowboys, 44-22, at AT&T Stadium, they also lost star Jayden Daniels to a hamstring injury.
Daniels sustained it with 11:53 left in the third quarter and did not return. He grimaced in pain as he lay on the ground after getting sacked, holding his right leg. He was brought to the medical tent and was seen giving his mother, Regina Jackson, the thumbs up when he exited it.
The 24-year-old quarterback threw for 191 yards and one touchdown, while also scoring on a one-yard run before sitting out the remainder of the contest. The Commanders fell to 3-4 after the loss.
Jackson took to X to ask fans to stop comparing her son to former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III, who had a promising start to his career but got derailed by various injuries.
“I wish you would stop manifesting RGIII on my son. Words are powerful, and that’s all that’s talked about,” pleaded Jackson.
Fans have compared Daniels and Griffin due to the similarities in their career arc. Both were drafted by Washington as the No. 2 overall pick after winning the Heisman Trophy in college. They also have the same build and are both dual-threat signal-callers.
It’s worth noting that Daniels broke Griffin’s record for most rushing yards by a rookie quarterback in NFL history last year. They both won as Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Griffin, who now works as an analyst for Fox Sports, only played 56 games in eight years due to multiple injuries to his knee, shoulder, and ankle.
It remains unclear if Daniels will miss an extended period, but obviously, the Commanders cannot afford to lose him, especially since they’re looking to improve on what has been a mediocre campaign.
Washington will return to action in Week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs.
ikings WR Justin Jefferson takes full responsibility for his drop—his shocking words will leave you rethinking his mindset
The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 28-22. The slim margin of defeat makes Justin Jefferson’s dropped touchdown reception against Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean stand out, and the All-Pro wide receiver is certainly taking it to heart.
Jefferson finished the game with five receptions for 79 yards. He was officially held out of the end zone following strong comments regarding that aspect of his game before the contest.
After the loss, Jefferson did not mince words about that battle with DeJean.
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson Delivers Blunt Take on Eagles CB Cooper DeJean
DeJean drew attention for his, as Pro Football Focus suggested on X after the play, lockdown coverage on Jefferson on the play during a drive that eventually saw the Vikings settle for a field goal.
Asked if he believed his “drop” was actually DeJean breaking up the pass, Jefferson said, “nah.”
“All respect to him, but that, that’s a catch any day of the week,” Jefferson told reporters on October 19. “I just gotta be more focused into pulling the ball into me and towards instead of just laying the ball out there and letting him just knock the ball out my hand. So, I would say that’s more on me than on him.”
DeJean celebrated the incompletion, as DBs are wont to do. However, it was Jefferson who was touting his abilities and, really, his mindset before the game.
“To be honest, wherever that ball touched my hand, I’m trying to get in that [end]zone,” Jefferson told Vikings legend Randy Moss on “Sunday NFL Countdown” on October 19. “So, it can be in the red zone, it can be from 50, or it might go 97 [yards] again. Who knows?”
Jefferson’s longest reception of the day went for 40 yards on a catch-and-run.
Justin Jefferson Points Out Red Zone Issues
Jefferson said that the Vikings’ struggles in the red zone were due to “just hurting ourselves and just causing us to go backwards instead of forward. We just got to execute our plays to the fullest and just take one play at a time. And when the opportunity comes, make those plays.”
The Vikings were 1-for-6 on the day in the red zone, including Jefferson’s drop.
“One of those red zone drives is – that’s me, dropping a touchdown, and not really pulling the ball all the way in. And I’m always critical on myself,” Jefferson said. “And always, especially when my opportunities are very, very slim. So, those are opportunities, I got to make the most of them.”
Making the most of their opportunities was a theme for the Vikings during Jefferson’s postgame availability.
Justin Jefferson Remains Confident in Vikings
Asked if the Vikings were trying to “figure it out” during the game, Jefferson said. “Yeah and no.”
“Honestly, it’s just executing those plays, those one or two plays, every drive that kind of hurts us and put us in bad positions. But I don’t feel like we’re still trying to ‘find out’ or still trying to ‘figure out what’s going on,’” Jefferson said.
“We understand what’s going on. We have the players out there that make the plays and do what we need to do to go down and score; we just need to finish those drives, especially games like this. We’re competing against a team that just won a Super Bowl. So, plays like that and making the most of those opportunities is the things that count.”
Jefferson and the Vikings will look to regroup in Week 8. They will visit the Los Angeles Chargers on a short week for “Thursday Night Football.”
