Chemistry between Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin grew with NFL world watching

TEMPE, Ariz. — Terry McLaurin quickly acknowledges that, as a ripe 29-year-old, he cares about maintaining his speed.

“I care about it big time,” said McLaurin, who clocked a 4.35 40-yard time at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine. “I’m still young. I feel that’s one of my skill sets that sets me apart.”

The Washington Commanders used that burst to eviscerate his slow start with rookie sensation Jayden Daniels in Monday night’s road win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

Two games into the season, McLaurin had only 39 yards on eight receptions. Defenses focus on the four-time 1,000-yard receiver. But leading into the national spotlight, offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury put the onus on himself “to find ways to answer that.” Showcasing speed works.

Inside the final three minutes of the first half, McLaurin lined up to the left of Washington’s formation at its 41-yard line. He raced past Cam Taylor-Britt, the Bengals cornerback who infamously called the Commanders’ passing attack a “college offense.” According to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, McLaurin’s top speed hit 20.71 miles per hour, the fourth fastest in Week 3.

Safety help came late and Taylor-Britt couldn’t keep up. Daniels’ deep strike did.

JAYDEN TO TERRY.

📺: #WASvsCIN on ABC
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus and ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/CX5oGZUpJL

— NFL (@NFL) September 24, 2024

The 55-yard catch set Washington up at Cincinnati’s 4-yard line, leading to the quarterback’s touchdown run on the next play — and eclipsing McLaurin’s first two-week total. The duo later combined for the game’s most dynamic play, a perfectly thrown 27-yard touchdown pass inside the right boundary with 2:10 remaining, effectively clinching the 38-33 victory.

More importantly, for the long term, any outside doubt about whether the rookie and veteran would establish game-day chemistry has left the scene. The topic did not make the trip to Arizona, the site of Washington’s Week 4 game against the Cardinals.

“We took some shots in some previous games. Didn’t quite nail them,” coach Dan Quinn said on Wednesday at Arizona State, Washington’s practice home this week. “I had no (worries) that it was going to happen. I just knew that it would. I’ve seen it too many times already in practice.”

McLaurin finished Monday’s national showcase with 100 yards on four receptions and his first touchdown of the season. Not enough to be selected as the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week. Daniels earned that honor after completing 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and accounting for three total touchdowns.

The plays and gains carry equal weight in the box score no matter the receiver, but witnessing Washington’s top playmakers connect after weeks of practice added heft to the equation.

“Man, pieces fell in place,” Daniels said. “It wasn’t anything specifically. We just kept working. Kept growing.”

Some frustration wafted through the air early in the season. For McLaurin, the new guy represented yet another quarterback change — Daniels was his sixth different Week 1 starter in six seasons. However, this one arrived with significant acclaim thanks to deep-ball accuracy, soul-snatching speed and poise beyond his age.

“That’s the testament to Terry. He is a pro,” Daniels said. “Be able to just be out there and be patient, because, like I said before, it’s not going to be smooth sailing. (We’re) going to have some adversity, some ups and downs. So, salute to Terry.”

The discussion of Daniels’ rapid development on the pro level had the perfect backdrop. He began his collegiate career as an 18-year-old true freshman starter for Arizona State before transferring to LSU ahead of the 2022 season and winning the Heisman Trophy the following campaign.

Now, among rookie quarterbacks making their first three starts in the past 25 seasons, Daniels ranks No. 1 in total QB expected points added (EPA) at 36.4 and EPA per dropback at 0.31, per TruMedia. For 2024, Daniels ranks second in total QB EPA and EPA per dropback — only behind the Buffalo Bills’ Josh Allen — and sits atop the league with an 80.3 completion percentage, all without committing a turnover.

Therefore, imagining some extra swagger walking back onto the campus after a monster performance seems possible. Perhaps for other players. Not this one, says linebacker Bobby Wagner.

“It’s amazing,” the future Hall of Famer said of Daniels’ start, which included rookie of the week accolades after his first game. “The composure, the humility. When you came into the building today, you wouldn’t know he was the offensive rookie of the week.”

Bobby Wagner said today you wouldn’t tell by his demeanor that Jayden Daniels had been named NFC offensive player of the week.

Jayden said no big head for him after that MNF. “Just another game.” pic.twitter.com/90isZaywS4

— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) September 26, 2024

Daniels said being back on the Tempe campus is “cool. First time back in a while. Able to just walk around here and relive some memories in my head,” he said. “Regardless, this is a business trip. But the main thing is to focus on the Arizona Cardinals.”

Not everything was composed on Washington’s final touchdown against the Bengals. McLaurin acknowledged that “not everyone knew the play call,” but the execution was flawless. As for the belief between the quarterback and receiver, McLaurin used a basketball analogy: Shooters shoot.

“I knew Kliff was going to continue giving us opportunities to make plays,” McLaurin said. “It was just about connecting. It’s like in basketball. When you see one fall (through the net), it gets the confidence going, especially for a young quarterback. He couldn’t have thrown a better ball in those opportunities.”

Hitting on challenging throws in practice is one thing. Waiting patiently for a target to create separation with a blitzer running directly at him is another. Daniels hung tough on the pass, or, as McLaurin described it, he was “playing big man football.”

Taylor Heinicke, now with the Los Angeles Chargers, was one of the many quarterbacks McLaurin played with in Washington. He put full faith in the receiver catching whatever he threw his way. Heinicke eventually had apparel made with the slogan, “F it, Terry down there somewhere.” Daniels isn’t winging his throws, but McLaurin has talked with the rookie about trusting him to make plays.

“You have to be patient with a rookie quarterback. He does a great job in practice, but in the game there is a different speed, you get different, funky (defensive) looks. You may not connect, but I try to stay patient.”

Quinn, the Dallas Cowboys’ defensive coordinator from 2021 to 2023, knows about McLaurin’s capabilities, including stretching the field. “It is one of Terry’s strengths to get on top of people,” Quinn said. “Sometimes it’s there … if they’re going to take away the inside stuff, you got to hit on crossers and catch them on (other) plays.”

The passing game isn’t only about McLaurin. Two newcomers, Noah Brown and rookie Luke McCaffrey, delivered chunk plays in Washington’s back-to-back wins. All three will be relied upon more, with pass-catching running back Austin Ekeler (concussion) ruled out for Week 4.

Daniels and McLaurin spend time each week in practice working on the catch point, among other passing game intricacies. This week, they will also focus on a Cardinals pass defense that sits in the middle of the pack, with 200 passing yards allowed per game.

“The great thing about him is that he has a great attitude and does a great job of keeping my mind focused,” McLaurin said. “That he’s going to come back to me. … I’m excited to see how we build off this. A guy with his talent and (my desire) to make plays will open up plays for everyone.”