Before the Washington Commanders battle the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5, Jayden Daniels took time away from X’s and O’s to roast the New York Mets.
In doing so, it’s also a subtle nod to his beloved Los Angeles Dodgers, much to the amusement of Commanders director of football communications Charlie Mule, a diehard Mets supporter.
“So the Mets lost,” Daniels told reporters, per Ian Rapoport. “That’s probably the biggest thing that brought a smile to my face this past weekend. They had the opportunity to play the Marlins to clinch the playoff spot, but they lost. So did the Reds. So I hope you guys have been watching the Dodgers.”
Los Angeles cruised past the Cincinnati Reds in the NLWC series 2-0 this week, and are now set to meet the Philadelphia Phillies in the NLDS on Saturday at Citizens Bank Park.
Daniels’ connection to the Dodgers
Daniels, a San Bernardino, California native, clearly hasn’t forgotten his baseball roots even as he gears up for a pivotal Week 5 matchup against the Chargers.
The Mets and Reds’ postseason exits set the stage for Daniels’ playful trolling. Miami’s Edward Cabrera outdueled Sean Manaea and the Mets, 4-0, last Sunday, capping New York’s season at 83-79. Meanwhile, the Reds snuck into the final National League Wild Card spot, winning the head-to-head tiebreaker against the Mets after claiming the season series 4-2.
Daniels, of course, didn’t miss the opportunity to highlight the chaos for his friends and colleagues.
At the same time, the Dodgers opened their NL Wild Card Series against the Reds in dominant fashion. Shohei Ohtani and Teoscar Hernandez homered twice each as the Dodgers pounded Cincinnati 10-5 on Tuesday, tying a franchise postseason record with five homers in a single game and racking up 15 hits.
The defending World Series champs finished off Cincinnati 8-4 on Wednesday.
Daniels making his Commanders return
Meanwhile, Daniels is back on the practice field with the Commanders, preparing to take the reins against the 3-1 Chargers. After missing two games with a sprained left knee, Daniels is “all systems go” under head coach Dan Quinn, who confirmed the quarterback will run full reps and operate the offense with his usual timing.
“Obviously as a competitor you want to go out there and help your team in any way possible,” Daniels said. “So being sidelined for this past couple of weeks was super tough. I felt like I could go two weeks ago, but I don’t make those calls.”
The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year is now fully focused on getting back in rhythm with his teammates.
“You can see the fire in him,” Quinn said. “He’s definitely chomping at the bit to get going. … Just running the offense, being back to himself.”
Daniels’ playful digs at the Mets, combined with the Dodgers’ postseason success, provide a lighthearted backdrop to the intensity of Sunday’s matchup against the Chargers.
As the Commanders prepare for a critical game in Los Angeles, all eyes will be on Daniels.
Can he carry the momentum from his spirited offseason observations and lead Washington back to the NFL postseason? If nothing else, fans across both leagues can count on one thing — he will keep the conversation lively, on or off the field.
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