Jayden Daniels’ second NFL season is officially over.
The Washington Commanders are shutting down their young quarterback for the final three games of the season, starting with Saturday’s matchup against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed the move on Monday, calling it “part medical and part team,” and emphasizing that Daniels still hasn’t been fully cleared to play.
At 4-10 and out of playoff contention, Washington is shifting its focus toward the future-and that includes protecting the player they believe is their franchise quarterback.
Daniels’ 2025 campaign has been a tough one, marred by a string of injuries that never let him find his rhythm. A sprained left knee, a right hamstring issue, and most recently a dislocated left elbow-re-aggravated in his return against Minnesota on December 7-have limited him to just seven appearances this year. He didn’t suit up for Sunday’s 29-21 win over the New York Giants, which snapped an eight-game losing skid for Washington.
That victory may have offered a brief reprieve for a team that’s struggled to find consistency, but it also underscored the reality that this season is about development more than results. And that’s where Daniels still plays a major role-even if he won’t be under center on game day.
“We believe this decision allows him to take advantage of the next few weeks,” Quinn said. “He wants to practice and he will practice. We all know the best way to grow is during the games … but there’s plenty of ways for him to learn.”
Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU, burst onto the NFL scene last year with a rookie season that turned heads across the league. He started all 20 games-including a playoff run that took Washington to the NFC Championship Game-and earned AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. His numbers backed it up: a 69% completion rate, 3,568 passing yards, 25 touchdowns to nine interceptions, plus 891 rushing yards and six scores on the ground.
That version of Daniels looked like the future of the franchise.
This year, though, has been a different story. His production dipped across the board: 60.6% completion rate, 1,262 yards, eight touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer rating that slid from 100.1 to 88.1. On the ground, he added 278 rushing yards and two touchdowns, but the explosiveness that defined his rookie year was harder to find-largely because he never had a chance to stay healthy.
Even so, the Commanders aren’t wavering in their belief in Daniels. The decision to shut him down isn’t about questioning his toughness or ability-it’s about protecting their investment, giving him a chance to heal fully, and ensuring he enters next season ready to take the next step.
Daniels will remain active in practice, staying engaged with the playbook and continuing to develop within the system. While game reps are irreplaceable, the mental reps, film study, and on-field work during the week can still be valuable for a young quarterback learning the nuances of the NFL.
For Washington, this final stretch of the season becomes less about wins and losses, and more about building for what’s next. And for Jayden Daniels, it’s about getting back to full strength-because when he’s right, he’s already shown he can be one of the most dynamic young quarterbacks in the league.