Jayden Daniels keeps short memory as awards pile up

Daniels’ dedication to the team is why his teammates have come to love and respect him. The signs were there going back to OTAs, when tight end Zach Ertz commented on how clear it was that Daniels “really cared” because of how much he was putting in to be ready for his rookie season. Terry McLaurin also sees the effort, and Daniels constantly talks with him about how they can improve their chemistry on certain plays.

Frankie Luvu said that “I’ll take my option with five [Daniels’ jersey number] any day and with any team,” and that’s a belief that many of his teammates share.

“He’s a competitor,” Austin Ekeler said. “He is going to show us stuff all year that we’re gonna be like, ‘Wow, this kid is great,’ because that’s what he is. And the more opportunities he’s going to get and the more opportunities he gets, the more he is going to show he’s a competitor. [He’s a] great leader out there.”

The national media loves Daniels, too. After becoming the first player in NFL history to have 1,000-plus passing yards and 250-plus rushing yards in their first five career games, many have him as the favorite to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year and maybe even the Most Valuable Player.

Daniels said he doesn’t let himself get too caught up in it.

“This game is very hard, so you got to appreciate the wins. Especially in this league, man, they’re hard to come by, so you gotta be able to appreciate the win … I’ve been like this win, lose or draw, 24-hour rule. Go out there, 24 hours, appreciate what happened or…get into your thoughts if you lost or either win or lost. But [you] go out there the next day, man, it’s time to go to work. Move on to the next week.”

What Daniels does appreciate is being able to celebrate the success he and the team has had with his teammates. When Daniels was named the “NVP,” he got the chance to pour Nickelodeon slime on his offensive line, a group that he consistently calls out when asked about his stats. The smile etched across his face only widened when the offensive line returned the favor and poured the green ooze on him.