PHOENIX – The Washington Commanders know Jayden Daniels can evade defenders when he gets running, but what they don’t want is for him to also have to rid himself of the ghosts of the organization’s past when it comes to quarterback play.

After a near-perfect performance in Monday’s 38-33 win over Cincinnati on Monday Night Football, and with fans looking to Daniels as their potential savior, coach Dan Quinn wanted to make it clear that Daniels can’t atone for the sins of the past. But he can shape the present and the future.

“I understand that our fans have been waiting for the franchise QB, but I don’t want Jayden to feel guilty either,” Quinn said. “I have to make sure he understands that there is only one name on the back of the jersey and that is his.”

Daniels completed 21 of 23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns while running for another to help the Commanders (2-1) win on the road. After the game, numerous players called him “different” and “the answer” and praised his composure during tense moments of the game.

According to the NFL, Daniels was the first player since at least 1950 to throw for 250 yards and more than a touchdown while also scoring a touchdown and completing at least 90% of his passes. His 91.3% completion rate was the highest ever by a rookie in a game. He ran for another 39 yards – and now has 171 this season.

In three games, Daniels has completed 80.1% of his passes for 664 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions – the best performance in the league.

But Quinn doesn’t want to compare him to what happened here in the past – or to anyone else.

“I don’t want to compare him to anyone else but him because he’s still developing,” Quinn said Tuesday, “and quite honestly, I can’t wait to see what he becomes. He played a remarkable game and I’m really, really proud of him.”

After the Commanders drafted Daniels, he said he felt no pressure because of Washington’s struggles at the position. This is the seventh straight season the Commanders have started a new quarterback to open the season. In total, there have been 10 starting quarterbacks in the last five years. And no quarterback has been the primary starter for more than three consecutive years since Mark Rypien from 1989-1994.

“I’m just going to come here and be myself,” Daniels said a day after the draft in April.

Being himself has helped revitalize a franchise that hasn’t won since 2016.

“He has this way of instilling energy and confidence in others as well,” Quinn said. “We don’t want him to feel like there are ghosts. We wanted to make sure that was clear. We know how important the position here is to him and to the organization, but we also wanted to make sure he did it his own way. And we really saw that.”

Meanwhile, running back Austin Ekeler did not accompany the team to Phoenix to prepare for Sunday’s game against the Cardinals. He suffered a concussion in the third quarter on Monday night and instead returned to Virginia, where the team is practicing. Ekeler also suffered a cut on his ear.