Jayden Daniels' Change in Physical Appearance Turns Heads at Commanders Practice
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was amazing in 2024, completing 331 of 480 passes for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 100.1 passer rating.
Combining that with his 891 rushing yards and six touchdowns, it's not much of a surprise that he wound up winning Offensive Rookie of the Year and being named to the Pro Bowl.
Advertisement
Daniels even led the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game, losing to the Philadelphia Eagles 55-23. It was still the furthest they had advanced in the playoffs since winning the Super Bowl at the end of the 1991 season.
Now, it's clear the team is ready to get back to work for 2025, and on Thursday, the Commanders' official X page posted photos of several players at voluntary organized team activities (OTAs), with one featuring their star quarterback.
The photo quickly caught the attention of many fans, who believe Daniels looks much bulkier and stronger compared to last season.
"JD5 looks like he put on some size," said one comment.
Advertisement
"Yea he put on some wait and muscle," said another.
"JD5 beefed up. League be on notice," a third added.
A fourth stated, "Yea man. Dude looking swole. Love it. He said it after the season that putting on weight was going to be a focus. Looks like the young man hit his goal."
"Yeah 5 has definitely been in the Weight Room," a fifth continued.
"Jayden actually putting work in at the weight room?? Let's go," said another.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Of course, it remains to be seen what's in store for Daniels in his second year, as he and the Commanders have some relatively lofty expectations, with ESPN BET tying them for the seventh-best odds (+1600) to win the Super Bowl.
Related: Texans Facing Major C.J. Stroud Decision After $300 Million Prediction
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
How much has World Cup's global party been spoiled already by Trump's tantrums, threats?
Last month, when President Donald Trump was asked about growing tension between the United States and our 2026 World Cup co-hosts, Canada and Mexico, he said with a smile, 'Tensions are a good thing. It'll make it more exciting.' Apparently there is so much tension that it has become plural. Tensions. Hey, the more the merrier. The excitement has ramped up since Trump made that comment. Back then, the tensions involved just those three countries, and just the World Cup. Trump's recently announced travel ban on visitors from 19 countries has added more tensions/excitements. Now we can also tense up excitedly about the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028 and even the Super Bowl in Santa Clara next year! Events like the Olympics and World Cup are world parties, and what we're doing is rearrange the schedule a bit. We're going to have the hangovers before the parties. Here's an interesting headline from Marca, Spain's daily sports newspaper: 'Trump, FIFA scandals spark movement planning to boycott 2026 World Cup.' Don't mind Spain. They're just cranky because of Trump's 20% tariffs on their exports of olive oil, auto parts and other goods. If only Spain would take a deep breath and remember that Trump's tariff policies change by the hour, so maybe better deals are ahead. Same with the new travel ban. Its effect on fans coming to America for the World Cup and the Olympics, and its implementation, are so vague and unknown that visitors from, say, Spain or Iraq might just have to get on the plane to America and hope for the best. American roulette: Maybe you come and go easily, maybe you accidentally wind up behind bars on Alcatraz. The Marca story says, 'As anger (at Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino) mounts, fan groups and some national associations are considering bold measures to demand change — including refusing to play or attend matches hosted in the U.S. unless FIFA addresses governance concerns and Trump's immigration policy is clarified.' Spain might not be the only whiny country. China doesn't seem thrilled with Trump's tariffs. Trump and Russia's Vladimir Putin are slow dancing one day, mud wrestling the next. Canada is steamed about Trump's tariffs and bluster over Canada becoming the 51st state. Will future Olympics and World Cup host countries slap reciprocal travel bans and restrictions on U.S. fans? The tariffs, the travel ban, the broken alliances, the global political and financial chaos, all cast a pall over America's place in global sports. The Super Bowl at Levi's Stadium in February, the World Cup games in California next summer and the L.A. Olympics in 2028 could all be negatively impacted by Trump, who threatens to withhold billions in federal funding, and to levy high fines, because of the state following its own rules to let a high school trans athlete compete in the CIF state track meet. As for the more distant future? The host of the 2038 World Cup likely will be chosen later this year. One actual scenario that has been given credibility is that FIFA could name another set of tri-hosts: New Zealand, Fiji and the U.S. Considering recent developments, what FIFA voter in his/her right mind would send Trump another World Cup? Why would tariff-squeezed New Zealand agree to join hands with America? Crazy stuff, but you have to admit, it's exciting. Tensions up the wazoo. Deeper thoughts and cheaper shots • Rick Carlisle is on his way to NBA sainthood, assuming the requirement is the performance of two miracles. His Pacers' win in the first game of the NBA Finals on Thursday night put Carlisle three wins away from his second miracle. Carlisle coached the Mavericks to a title in 2011 over the heavily favored, LeBron-led Miami Heat superteam, after the Heat took a 2-1 lead. That Mavericks title got Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd their rings. Going into this season, the Pacers had the 15th best odds to win it all (per Basketball Reference). Just saying, maybe the guy's a good coach. • Still the worst idea in basketball since the invention of the Eurostep: The Commissioner's Cup in-season tournament. The WNBA one-ups the NBA by using a different ball for Cup games, a ball with alternating black and white panels instead of the regular fire orange and white. At least they didn't embed blinking lights in the seams. How about: Cut through the gimmicks and make each tournament game win count as 1½ wins? • Let's all thank Brock Purdy for signing that low-ish contract, quickly, thus sparing the San Francisco 49ers the ghastly task of sifting through the pile of discarded quarterbacks, and maybe plucking out Aaron Rodgers. The tinfoil-helmeted veteran agreed to sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers about two weeks after Purdy inked his deal, so it's possible Rodgers was the 49ers' Plan B. But Rodgers is only 41, so maybe he'll stick around the game long enough to get a third shot at a 49ers' job. • Commissioner Adam Silver is starting to talk about NBA expansion. He's not naming names, but others are, and Las Vegas is at the top of most lists. That puts more pressure on A's owner John Fisher to get his ballpark built ASAP, because MLB really wants to beat the NBA to Vegas. The A's say actual construction will begin this month. A's fans in Vegas must be heartened by the fact that the team isn't squandering all its winning luck in West Sacramento.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Commanders WR Luke McCaffrey is a 2025 breakout candidate
The Washington Commanders added Deebo Samuel to the wide receiver room this offseason, giving quarterback Jayden Daniels another big-time weapon opposite Terry McLaurin. In addition to trading for Samuel, the Commanders also re-signed Noah Brown and K.J. Osborn and signed former Dallas Cowboy Michael Gallup. Brown was Washington's second-leading receiver before a kidney injury ended his season in Week 13. The Commanders also spent a fourth-round pick on wide receiver Jaylin Lane. While Lane is expected to be the primary punt returner immediately, he should factor into OC Kliff Kingsbury's offensive plans. Advertisement One player you shouldn't forget about is second-year wideout Luke McCaffrey. A third-round pick from Rice one year ago, McCaffrey appeared in all 17 games, including four starts last season. However, McCaffrey finished the season with only 18 receptions for 168 yards. He played in 36% of Washington's offensive snaps. Due to Austin Ekeler's injury late in the season, McCaffrey took over as the Commanders' kick returner and averaged almost 30 yards per return. So, while it's easy to focus on McLaurin, Samuel, Lane and others, you shouldn't forget about McCaffrey. There are reasons to be excited about the son of former NFL star Ed McCaffrey and the younger brother of former MVP Christian McCaffrey. At one point late last season, McCaffrey ranked fourth in the NFL in Pro Football Focus' separation percentage metric. So, why wasn't he getting more targets? Some of it could be due to Daniels being more comfortable with veterans McLaurin and tight end Zach Ertz. Also, many don't realize that the receiver position was still fairly new to McCaffrey. After beginning his career as a quarterback, McCaffrey moved to receiver for his final two seasons of college and excelled. Advertisement McCaffrey had a strong offseason and is ready for an increased role in 2025. "There's a lot that goes into your rookie year, on and off the field," McCaffrey said last week. "It's nice this year just not to have to ask about everything." What did McCaffrey work on throughout the offseason? "I worked on a lot, you know, the offseason, again, similar to the details of playing receiver, so long and so detailed that it would take probably too long to over all the intricate details." McCaffrey revealed he'd spent time this offseason training with his brother Christian. Advertisement So, while all the attention is on McLaurin, Samuel, Ertz and others, don't forget about McCaffrey. He's a sneaky breakout candidate for the Commanders in 2025. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Could Commanders WR Luke McCaffrey have a breakout season in 2025?


USA Today
2 hours ago
- USA Today
WWE's 'The Miz' suggests Chiefs star for American Gladiators, talks Browns fandom
WWE's 'The Miz' suggests Chiefs star for American Gladiators, talks Browns fandom This week, Chiefs Wire's Ed Easton Jr. spoke to Mike 'The Miz' Mizanin about his participation in this year's American Century Championship, which will take place July 9-13 at Edgewood Tahoe, his earliest memory of the Cleveland Browns fandom, and hosting the upcoming American Gladiators reboot while name dropping Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce as an ideal Gladiator. The Kelce brothers are confirmed to be Miz's competition again this year, as he will seek a better finish than last year's tournament. Miz is an Ohio native and a die-hard Browns fan, having witnessed the franchise's ups and downs. Cleveland's last divisional round postseason appearance was against Kansas City in 2020, when they lost at Arrowhead Stadium 17-22. He recalled his earliest memory of the team as a child attending school, singing about their quarterback, Bernie Kosar. "I believe I was in, like, fifth grade, and I was going to school in the bus, and we were just singing, Bernie, Bernie, oh baby Super Bowl," said Miz, "So, yeah, I remember that verbatim, and I also remember us not making it to the Super Bowl. I believe that year was either the fumble or the drive. I'm not sure which one, but those are the two things that really screwed us." The former WWE champion was recently named host of the upcoming reboot of American Gladiators on Prime Video. "I can't wait. I think, with this show, we're gonna, you know, give a nod to what, what American Gladiators was in the past, and elevate it and put it, you know, with 100% and go literally, ball to the wall, if you will." said Miz, "I mean, American Gladiators is a staple, and now to be the host of American Gladiators. It's an absolute honor, and I take it very, very seriously. I want to make sure that this show is everything people imagine it to be and more, and it will be. I can't wait for people to meet the Gladiators. I can't wait for people to see the events, and I can't wait for people to see me as the host." During a recent appearance on NFL Network's Good Morning Football, Miz suggested that Chiefs star Travis Kelce would make a great addition to the show as a Gladiator. "I'm gonna go with two tight ends. I'm gonna go, George Kittle, I'm gonna go with Travis Kelce, because of personality," said Miz during the broadcast, "A Gladiator has to have a great personality, and got to be out there, not only do that be physically dominating but they got to be someone, either you're root for, or you're gonna boo kind of like a WWE superstar." The annual tournament awards $750,000 in prize money, much of which the celebrity players donate to local and national charities. Over the years, nearly $8 million has been donated to non-profit causes. Network television exposure on NBC, along with a first-place prize of $150,000, makes the celebrity tournament one of the most prestigious in the golf world.