ASHBURN, Va. — Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels threw for 226 yards and completed 23 of his 29 passes in Washington's 21-18 win over the Giants Sunday. Daniels has yet to turn the ball over, and he's yet to throw a touchdown pass. One thing the Commanders have noticed is the lack of opportunities for former Pro Bowl wide receiver, Terry McLaurin, trying for a fifth-straight 1,000-yard receiving season.
"We’ve got to find a way to get Terry more involved. That’s on me completely," said Offensive Coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. "He’s a tremendous player, one of the best players in the league and I’ve got to find ways to get him the football."
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"I know that they want to give me the football and in different ways," said McLaurin. "We’re just trying to progress this offense as a whole. Obviously with Jayden being a first-time quarterback, it takes time to progress as well, but I think he’s doing a really good job and it’s just a matter of continuing to put the pieces together and just getting opportunities to make plays down the field I know what I bring to the table. I just got to be ready for those opportunities."
Kingsbury and Daniels have noticed defenses zeroing in on McLaurin through the first two weeks. He's caught a team-high eight passes for only 39 yards, averaging 4.9 yards per catch.
"Obviously we’ve got to get Terry the ball, but at the end of the day you’ve got to spread the ball around," said Daniels, who completed passes to eight different receivers Sunday. "Defenses are going to key in one Terry. Respect to him, for what he’s done in this league, but at the end of the day when it’s time and we have a one-on-one matchup and Terry’s out there, go let him win."
"Defensive coordinators are smart. They’re going to try to take him away, there’s no doubt," said Kingsbury. "That’s my job to find ways to answer that. So far, I haven’t done a great job of it and as a staff and me, we’ve got to be better moving forward."
McLaurin, who has played with a new week one starter each season since coming to the Commanders in 2019, is practicing patience with a new offensive scheme and quarterback he knows can be special.
"I’m always ready for my opportunities and it’s just kind of sometimes a waiting game," said McLaurin. "I just try to stay focused and be ready when they come to me."
