FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — One year ago, the Washington Commanders’ preseason opener carried with it giddy anticipation. Jayden Daniels, the skinny Heisman Trophy winner picked second overall, had not yet worn a Commanders uniform and was still unknown to Washington’s fan base. On his first pass, Daniels launched a perfect parabola down the right sideline, and when it landed in Dyami Brown’s arms, it felt something like a dream starting to turn real.

Friday night will not provide one of those moments. The Commanders plan to rest Daniels and most of their starters. Anyone who wants to see a top quarterback from the 2024 draft will have to make do with Drake Maye, should New England Patriots Coach Mike Vrabel choose to play his second-year guy.

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