The Washington Commanders got a clearer read on Jayden Daniels on Thursday, but the biggest decision still hangs over Sunday’s trip to London.
Daniels was one of seven players listed as limited in the team’s full injury report, a step forward after Wednesday’s walkthrough only produced estimated participation. Washington still has Rachaad White listed as a non-participant with a shoulder injury, and Sam Cosmi and Nick Cross have already been ruled out for the game against the Indianapolis Colts. Percy Butler and Amik Robertson, meanwhile, were upgraded to full participation.
Dan Quinn said the team is keeping Daniels’ health front and center. “We won't put him out there before he's ready,” Quinn said.
“That's why it's important to trust the process. But him being back on the field, that's a good step for us.”
Daniels, for his part, sounded ready to play through the uncertainty. “I love football,” Daniels said.
“I play football. I get paid to play football ...
Everybody's hurting. Something's wrong with somebody on this team, so I just feel like, for me, being a leader, being a guy going out there and giving my shot to go out there and play and obviously protect myself.
I just love football. I have a passion for it.”
Washington’s approach this week has also been shaped by the logistics of the London trip. The Commanders arrived early on Wednesday for a game that is still four days away, a choice that comes with the international travel lessons teams have been watching closely after the 49ers-Rams Week 1 game in Australia.
San Francisco traveled nearly 8,000 miles a week early before the Sept. 10 game, while Los Angeles went the day before and later regretted it after a blowout loss. The Colts, by contrast, are set to arrive on Friday.
Terry McLaurin’s connection to this matchup runs a little deeper than most. The Washington wide receiver grew up in Indianapolis as a Colts fan, and when he faced them in 2022, it became one of the defining moments of his career because it was a homecoming in front of friends and family. This time, he’ll see them again in London, about 4,000 miles away from that first meeting.
Washington’s standing around the league has been all over the map after last week’s win, with the team sitting anywhere from No. 21 to No. 29 in the nine national power rankings tracked each week. Walter Football was the outlier, dropping Washington one spot, and still calls the team the Redskins.
The injury picture on Thursday also included more than just Daniels. Frankie Luvu, Chig Okonkwo and Javon Kinlaw remained limited, while Rachaad White stayed out. Friday’s final report will bring the real answers, including the game-status designations before Washington faces Indianapolis in London.
Quinn also pointed to the cornerback group, saying the club liked what it saw after moving pieces around. “I liked the results from seeing that,” Quinn said Wednesday.
“I thought that’s the best spot and thing that we can do right now. … Amik, I thought, for three games, has really shown his intensity and competitive drive a number of times.
We’ll continue working in that direction with both Fabian and Rasul.”
The Commanders’ offensive line remains a major concern, too. Laremy Tunsil’s triceps injury pushed Brandon Coleman to left tackle, which then moved Chris Paul into left guard.
The team had already planned to shift Nick Allegretti to center, but lingering calf issues kept him out for most of camp. At right tackle, Josh Conerly Jr. entered year two after a difficult first season in which he played every snap, allowed 43 pressures and committed 13 penalties.
Daniels said the medical side is part of the conversation, but not the whole story. “Obviously you have those conversations with people I need to have those conversations with.
If the surgery was needed to be ASAP, then I've got to do what's best for me. We had those conversations.
I was blessed enough to go back out there on the practice field ... I'm not really concerned at this moment.”
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