Jets-Commanders Preseason Game Recap | Rookies Show Promise in 20-17 Victory

With the Jets 2024 draft class making its preseason debut, Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 overall selection last April, got the game’s scoring underway. Daniels led an 11-play, 70-yard march following the opening kickoff, ending a 6:21 drive on a 3-yard keeper coming on a third-and-goal. Daniels got Washington into scoring possession with his arm, connecting with wideout Dyami Brown for 42 yards on a long hook-up against CB Jarrick Bernard-Converse.

Tyrod Taylor, who will backup QB Aaron Rodgers in the regular season, got the start and played two series with C Joe Tippmann. Peasley took over in the second quarter and hit on 8 of 10 for 73 yards prior to halftime. Targeted 5 times in the first half, Corley had 4 receptions for 28 yards. Allen averaged 9 yards on his 6 carries while Davis grabbed 4 receptions for 33 yards. Stiggers continued to show a nose for the ball with 4 stops highlighted by a run stuff of Chris Rodriquez for a loss of 1.

Trailing , 17-10, in the fourth quarter, the Jets’ reserves evened the contest when Brooklyn native Israel Abanikanda powered in from 2 yards out. Fourth-string passer Adrian Martinez set up the equalizer with a pretty 37-yard long ball to Brandon Smith, a first-year player from Iowa.

The pair later connected on a 33-yard connection on third-and-4 that put the Jets on Washington’s 36-yard line. Martinez then scampered for 13 yards on third-and-7 at the 2-minute warning, which set K Austin Seibert up for the game-winning field goal.

“Over the two weeks that I’ve been here, I’ve been able to build up some trust with him,” Martinez said of Smith. “I feel like I can trust him out there, along with some of those other guys, too. That’s part of this game — finding your guys and giving them opportunities. That’s really all I did. He was the one who went out there and made the plays for me.”