Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is facing criticism after his team fell 23-17 to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. He threw for 300 yards and two touchdowns, but costly mistakes late in the game hurt Washington’s chances of completing a comeback.

Former NFL linebacker and analyst Emmanuel Acho was particularly critical of the quarterback, arguing that Daniels has been living off the success of his impressive rookie season. Acho even compared him to Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, sparking a debate about whether Daniels has done enough to justify the hype surrounding him.

Emmanuel Acho Questions Jayden Daniels’ Performance

The Commanders managed just 90 yards and 17 offensive plays in the first half, trailing 20-3 at halftime. Two quick touchdown drives put them in position for a comeback, but costly mistakes by Daniels proved decisive.

On a crucial fourth-and-2, Daniels rolled right and threw the ball out of bounds. Washington was also flagged for an illegal shift, which San Francisco declined in favor of the turnover on downs. Washington also burned a valuable timeout late in the game after struggling to get the offense lined up.

The most damaging late sequence came in the final seconds. With 16 seconds left, Daniels was called for intentional grounding while under pressure, resulting in a loss of down and a 10-second runoff. The clock dropped to six seconds, and Washington was pushed back to the 49ers’ 40-yard line. Daniels was then sacked on the final play.

Speaking on the “Speakeasy” podcast, Acho did not hold back when discussing Daniels’ performance.

“Jayden Daniels is simply a melanated Justin Herbert. Jayden Daniels is living off of the success, the wild success of his rookie season,” Acho said. “Justin Herbert… like a kite, was just able to glide for years off of that rookie season. Jayden Daniels… for the last 18 months now, has been gliding off the success of that rookie campaign.”

Herbert had an impressive rookie season with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2020, throwing 31 touchdown passes and winning AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. However, he and the Chargers have struggled this season, with Herbert ranking last among quarterbacks in PFN’s NFL QB Impact metrics.

Daniels also made an immediate impact in his rookie season in 2024. He won PFWA Offensive Rookie of the Year and led Washington to the NFC Championship Game, establishing himself as one of the league’s most exciting young quarterbacks.

Injuries limited Daniels to just seven games in his second season. He has worked to get back to his best in 2026, but costly mistakes have raised concerns about his consistency. Daniels currently ranks 15th among quarterbacks with a 77.8 grade on PFN’s NFL QB Impact metrics.

Acho believes Daniels’ potential is no longer enough to excuse the errors that have hurt Washington in close games. He said:

“Eventually the wind has to stop blowing and we have to realize what the hell is really going on. Because Jayden Daniels was as unimpressive today as he was impressive. He missed as many throws as he did indeed make. How do you throw the ball away on fourth and two? … When I see Jaden Daniels, I see Justin Herbert. That’s what I see right now. It’s very frustrating.”

The defeat leaves Washington with a 1-4-1 record heading into its Week 7 bye.

With two consecutive weeks defined by late-game clock mismanagement and procedural breakdowns, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn faces an urgent need to re-evaluate their late-game operation.

The bye week gives Washington time to review its mistakes and regroup before facing the Philadelphia Eagles.