The NFL preseason introduced collectively two acquainted faces from Baton Rouge, as former LSU Heisman Trophy-winning quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels went head-to-head on Monday night time. Whereas the Cincinnati Bengals walked away with a 31-17 win over the Washington Commanders, the actual headline got here after the sport—a heartfelt embrace between Burrow and Daniels that reminded followers of LSU’s exceptional quarterback lineage.
Joe Burrow. Jayden Daniels. @LSUFootball 💜@JoeyB x @JayD__5 pic.twitter.com/cPDtidX5Hr
— NFL (@NFL) August 19, 2025
Joe Burrow, the 2019 nationwide champion and 2020 Heisman winner, confirmed why Cincinnati is relying on him to set the tone early this season. Enjoying three possessions, Burrow accomplished 9 of 14 passes for 62 yards and one landing. His sharpest second got here on a four-yard strike to huge receiver Charlie Jones, capping off his ultimate collection of the night time. Burrow additionally guided the Bengals on a 58-yard opening drive, completed by working again Chase Brown’s one-yard plunge on fourth-and-goal.
For a group that has typically stumbled out of the gates in latest seasons, Cincinnati’s preseason method has been deliberate: preserve the starters in lengthy sufficient to construct rhythm. By means of two video games with Burrow below heart, the Bengals have scored touchdowns on 4 of 5 drives. “These reps are extremely priceless,” Burrow stated postgame. “Often you iron out these kinks in September, however we’re getting that completed now.”
On the opposite sideline, Jayden Daniels, LSU’s 2023 Heisman winner and reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Yr, wasted no time reminding followers of his electrifying athleticism. In his lone possession, Daniels orchestrated a fast 74-yard drive that ended with a stunning 14-yard landing run. Evading defenders and refusing to slip, Daniels powered straight by visitors to even the rating at 7-7.
The Commanders opted to maintain his workload mild, particularly with a number of offensive starters sidelined. Daniels didn’t try a go, however his legs proved greater than sufficient. “I’m simply enjoying soccer,” Daniels stated. “I do know it’s preseason, however as soon as I’m on the market, it’s a sport to me.”
When the ultimate whistle blew, cameras caught the second followers had been ready for: Burrow and Daniels assembly at midfield, exchanging smiles, phrases of encouragement, and an extended embrace. The hug was greater than only a postgame ritual; it was a symbolic passing of the torch between LSU’s back-to-back Heisman quarterbacks, every carving his personal legacy within the NFL.
For LSU supporters, it was a snapshot of pleasure. From Burrow’s historic 2019 season to Daniels’ dynamic 2023 marketing campaign, the Tigers have produced generational skills who proceed to make headlines past Baton Rouge. Social media lit up with reactions, with many followers calling it a “full-circle LSU second” and others stating that no program has showcased quarterback excellence fairly like LSU in recent times.
Whereas the preseason matchup will shortly fade into the background as each groups put together for the common season, the Burrow-Daniels assembly shall be remembered. For Cincinnati, Burrow’s regular play suggests the Bengals are ironing out early-season points that beforehand haunted them. For Washington, Daniels’ transient however electrical cameo is one more reminder of why he’s seen as the way forward for the franchise.
However for LSU followers, the scoreboard mattered lower than the sight of two of their very own embracing below the NFL lights, a second that bridged previous glory and future promise, and as soon as once more proved that LSU’s quarterback custom is alive and properly.