Jayden Daniels is back in the mix for Washington, and the timing could hardly be better.
After the Commanders fell to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 4 while missing Terry McLaurin and then losing Marcus Mariota to an early injury, the quarterback situation suddenly got even thinner. Mariota is expected to miss time, which made Friday’s update on Daniels especially important for Washington.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Daniels will start Sunday against the New York Giants in Week 5.
"HC Dan Quinn confirmed that Jayden Daniels will start on Sunday," the Commanders announced on social media Friday afternoon.
That news doesn’t come out of nowhere. Throughout the week, everything pointed toward Daniels being available and taking back the starting job. Still, the confirmation removes any lingering uncertainty and puts Washington’s top quarterback back on the field for the first time since the first half of Week 2.
Daniels will do it with a brace on his left arm to protect the left elbow he dislocated at the end of the first half against the Dallas Cowboys a few weeks ago.
He chose not to have surgery, instead pushing that decision to the offseason so he could try to return this season. That route leaves open the possibility of him getting back on the field now, even if he may not be fully himself yet.
Sunday’s matchup could be a tricky one, with the Giants and possibly bad weather conditions in play. But for the Commanders, simply getting Daniels back is a major lift.
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Jayden Daniels Brings A Risk Washington Cant Ignore Against Giants
Jayden Daniels is expected back for Washington after a dislocated left elbow sidelined him a few weeks ago, and his return puts an immediate spotlight on how the Commanders plan to handle him. He opted to avoid surgery, and the hope in Washington is simple enough: keep him upright long enough for the offense to stabilize and build on what the team has shown recently.
Still, there is real unease around how much punishment Daniels can absorb while doing it. An unnamed executive raised durability concerns and pointed to the need for a more careful offensive approach, with more emphasis on the run game, extra protection and a tighter plan for getting Daniels through games. Against the Giants, that tension will hang over every snap he takes. [Read more 🡒]