EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Jayden Daniels showed up for his first NFL game for Washington wearing a retro Doug Williams jersey.

Then the No. 2 overall pick went out and played like the potential franchise quarterback the Commanders hope will play in his only series, a 20-17 loss to the New York Jets on Saturday in the preseason opener.

“It was in my locker before I left,” Daniels said, smiling while again wearing Williams’ No. 17 Washington jersey. “Hey, what better way to make my debut, my first game, than to represent Doug and what he’s done for this organization.”

Daniels ran for the touchdown after throwing a perfectly placed deep pass, his first NFL completion that put Washington in New York territory. He certainly made a good first impression on Williams, the first black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl for Washington in January 1988 and who is currently a senior adviser to the team.

“I feel like it gives everyone confidence for the future, obviously not just me,” Daniels said.

The former LSU star and most of the Commanders’ other offensive players only played the opening series against the Jets’ backups – and the young quarterback didn’t let it slide with his second pass, completing a 42-yard pass to Dyami Brown along the right sideline on third-and-6 from Washington’s 34-yard line.

Coach Dan Quinn said Daniels actually checked out on his own on a shorter play before making a long throw.

“I think he was asking for forgiveness, not permission,” Quinn said. “And then he throws a dime over the top to Dyami. … He went ahead and zoomed over the tower. It was a really cool play.”

On the Jets’ third-and-3 5, Daniels handed off to Austin Ekeler, who ran up the middle for a yardage gain of 3 that was confirmed by a virtual measurement. The NFL is testing Sony’s Hawk-Eye technology to perform line-to-gain measurement instead of the traditional chain gang during some preseason games.

Daniels faked a handoff to Ekeler on third down, ran right toward a keeper and ran unchallenged three yards into the end zone to give the Commanders a 7-0 lead with 8:39 left in the first quarter. Then he found his mother in the stands behind Washington’s sideline and tossed her his first touchdown ball.

“It was great,” Daniels said. “Obviously she was very excited. I was just happy to score my first touchdown and throw it to her, so I know she’s happy. Now I have to fight her to get the ball back.”

Daniels and most of Washington’s scheduled starters were done after that 11-play, 70-yard drive. Daniels completed 2 of 3 passes for 45 yards and three third-down conversions before being replaced by Marcus Mariota.

“Jayden just had a real control of things in my opinion,” Quinn said. “It was a great first day for him.”

The Jets, who rested almost all of their regular players, including quarterback Aaron Rodgers, took the win with Austin Seibert’s 37-yard field goal with 21 seconds left.

With New York trailing 7-0 in the second quarter, freshman Andrew Peasley – who came on after two possessions from Tyrod Taylor – scored a 12-yard touchdown on a pass from Jason Brownlee.

Marcus Wiley gave the Commanders a 17-10 lead with a 1-yard run early in the fourth quarter.

Israel Abanikanda tied the score at 17-17 with a 2-yard touchdown run with 7:09 minutes left. The goal was made possible by Brandon Smith’s 37-yard catch after a nice throw from Adrian Martinez.

“I think these two young quarterbacks did a great job,” said Jets coach Robert Saleh.

Mariota completed a 6-yard pass on his only throw on his only possession. Jeff Driskel played the rest of the first half, completing 5 of 10 passes for 73 yards and running for 23 yards on three carries before rookie Sam Hartman took over. Driskel returned when Hartman left late in the fourth quarter while coaches on the sideline watched his right shoulder. … Peasley completed 8 of 11 passes for 73 yards and the touchdown pass to Brownlee. He was replaced in the third quarter by Martinez, the UFL season and championship game MVP for Birmingham. He completed 6 of 10 passes for 104 yards.

Rodgers will not play in either of the Jets’ first two preseason games, and Saleh had previously stated that he was leaning toward benching him for the finale against the Giants on August 24 – but that plan has not yet been finalized.

The 40-year-old quarterback, who has recovered from tearing his left Achilles tendon on his fourth snap last season, stood on the sideline in jogging clothes and wore a headset as he listened to the Jets’ plays. As a precautionary measure, Saleh did not allow Rodgers to participate in the team’s joint practice with the Commanders on Thursday in the rain.

New York’s only likely offensive player to play against Washington was center Joe Tippmann, who had some problems with shotgun snaps in training camp.

Commanders: Quinn said rookie LT Brandon Coleman, who did not play, is week-to-week with a shoulder/chest injury. … There was no immediate word on Hartman’s injury. … CB Noah Igbinoghene went to the locker room late in the game with an unspecified injury.

Jets: LB Jimmy Ciarlo left the field late in the third quarter due to a knee injury and did not return.

Commanders: August 17 in Miami.

Jets: Aug. 17 at Carolina.

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