Head coach Kyle Shanahan has seen enough film of Jayden Daniels to know what the San Francisco 49ers are up against Monday night.
Shanahan praised the Commanders quarterback Thursday, both for his throwing prowess and his ability to run the ball.
“Since he came in the league until now, Jayden’s got a chance to be one of the better quarterbacks in this league without a doubt,” Shanahan said. “If you take away the running element of him, just how he plays in the pocket is so natural with how accurate he is, how strong his arm is, how poised he is going through a progression, how fearless he is hanging in there and taking a hit, keeping his eyes down the field.
“He’s got the speed and the coordination to win games only with his legs, which means you
want to keep him in the pocket and not let him out because he can beat you with his legs. However, he’s a very scary quarterback in the pocket just playing the position. So, he’s got all the tools to be as good as there is.”
Daniels’ 2024 rookie season showed that. He threw for 3,568 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions, made the Pro Bowl and won Offensive Rookie of the Year. He started seven games in 2025 due to injuries, though, and only finished with 1,262 yards with eight touchdowns and three interceptions, while the Commanders went 2-5.
This season he’s producing at a good rate despite still missing time with an elbow injury. Daniels has thrown for 459 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in three games. Despite the Commanders' 1-3-1 record, Shanahan expects Washington to give the 49ers a run for their undefeated record.
“I know we’ve got a really good team coming in here who’s as hungry as can be and I know it’s going to be probably our biggest challenge so far,” he said.
This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: Kyle Shanahan heaps praise on Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
