Jayden Daniels had only just cleared the persistent questions regarding his nagging knee ailment when disaster struck Monday night.
In the days since Daniels' fumble allowed the Bears a chance to complete a comeback win over his Commanders, the quarterback has been forced to answer for himself again, but for an entirely different reason. He's owned his mistake and hopes to put it all to rest with a positive showing in Week 7.
"I mean, that's what a quarterback does," he said on Wednesday of taking ownership of his late-game turnover. "But it was on me. So I take accountability."
Save for the game-changing giveaway, Daniels' Monday night was a largely triumphant one. Yes, he threw an ugly interception early in the contest, but he also tossed three touchdown passes and looked like himself again for perhaps the first time in the 2025 season.
That detail is what Commanders fans are hoping will stick well beyond the middle of October. Daniels knows, though, that it will ultimately be up to him and his teammates to ensure his fourth-quarter fumble is nothing more than a footnote by season's end.
"We feel we can put up points," Daniels said, "but we just got to be better with the details and execution, so we don't have slow starts."
Daniels has reason to point toward slow starts as a cause for the challenges the Commanders have encountered through six weeks. They've fallen behind by double digits in the first half of each of their last three games, and while Daniels only participated in their most recent game, it's a trend Washington knows it must vanquish if it wants to repeat the success it enjoyed a season ago.
Fortunately, the Commanders face the Cowboys and their struggling defense in Week 7. As most expect, their first-quarter woes -- a period in which they've been outscored 36-14 this season -- should melt away against Dallas' defense, which ranks last in yards allowed, passing yards allowed and third-down percentage through six weeks.
Another bit of good news arrived Wednesday: Top receiver Terry McLaurin (quadriceps) returned to practice on Wendesday and could return to the field against the Cowboys. McLaurin's absence didn't limit Daniels' ability to propel the offense, but his return would be a boon for this group at the perfect time.
Although nothing is guaranteed in this league, the Commanders have reason to feel optimistic going forward. Their quarterback regained his form on a prime-time stage, and a favorable matchup awaits them.
They just need to get out of their own way in order to cross the finish line with their heads held high.
"We understand it's a roller coaster of a season so far," tight end Zach Ertz said, via The Associated Press. "We've got to be more consistent as a team -- offense, defense, special teams."
