Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels did not attempt a pass against the Bengals, but did score on a 14-yard touchdown run.
The Washington Commanders' defense certainly didn't take it easy Monday night on Cincinnati Bengals starting quarterback Joe Burrow.
And ESPN Monday Night Football analyst Troy Aikman noted during the broadcast that among the Bengals' defensive struggles during their second NFL preseason game was a missed opportunity for defensive back Jordan Battle to stop Commanders starting quarterback Jayden Daniels from reaching the end zone on his first-quarter touchdown run of 14 yards.
"There was a collective exhale on that Washington sideline when he didn't go to the ground, including here in the booth," Aikman said. "Jordan Battle had a chance at the safety position to come up and take a big hit on Daniels, and he just failed to make a play."
"Daniels not going down! It may be August, but who cares?" play-by-play announcer Joe Buck added.
"They were not planning on him being at risk in this game," Aikman said. "They're without three offensive linemen. … Here was an issue for this Bengals' defense last year. Jordan Battle right there - he has to make that play. You've got to just take him out. I mean there's a quarterback who's running with the football and it really doesn't matter who it is. You're the last line of defense. It was an issue for this team last year, the tackling. I'll tell you Al Golden is not happy at all with what he just watched."
Asked during the second quarter by sideline reporter Lisa Salters why he didn't go down before potentially being hit, Daniels answered, "I wanted to score."
Daniels, the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, completed 21-of-23 attempts for 254 yards with two touchdowns, and one rushing TD as a rookie in Washington's 38-33 win in Cincinnati on Monday Night Football at Paycor Stadium in September 2024.
Like Burrow, Daniels played two seasons at LSU and won a Heisman Trophy while playing for the Tigers. Daniels played in 26 games for the Tigers after transferring from Arizona State. Burrow played in 28 games for LSU after transferring from Ohio State.
Bengals defensive back Daijahn Anthony had a huge hit on Daniels when Anthony's Ole Miss team met Daniels' LSU team in 2023.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Troy Aikman blasts Bengals' Jordan Battle over Jayden Daniels' TD run
Category: Football
