Dan Quinn left London with plenty to sort through after Washington’s 30-13 loss to the Colts, but he did offer one clear point of optimism: the Commanders are hoping Jayden Daniels can return in Week 5 against the Giants.
“That’s the hope for us for sure, [Jayden] coming back,” Quinn said. “He’ll have a full week of practice Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
That’s the goal that he could get into that space. Once we see where Marcus [Mariota] is ... we’ll have a better understanding.
That’s the goal for Jayden to throw a full week. He was able to do some limited this week, and this week would be the plan for him to do all the reps.”
The timeline depends in part on Mariota, who is believed to have aggravated a preseason MCL injury in the first quarter Sunday when he went down awkwardly on a sack. If Mariota can’t go, Washington would be down to the next man up again.
That already happened against Indianapolis, when the Commanders turned to third-string quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, a seventh-round rookie out of Rutgers. Kaliakmanis threw his first NFL touchdown pass, but he also had a costly interception, and Washington managed just one score over his 10 drives.
“Athan came in after 12 plays; that’s not the ideal space to begin it, but I thought he also showed a lot of confidence, some fearlessness with that, and made some of the throws to highlight why he is where he is,” Quinn said.
Mariota is set for further testing, and Quinn said the preference is still to get Daniels back under center next week. Daniels dislocated his left elbow in Week 2 against the Cowboys, when he got stepped on by left guard Chris Paul and fell awkwardly. It was the second such injury in less than a year.
The No. 2 overall pick in 2024 has now played in just seven games last year, and the injuries - along with Washington’s lack of success - have raised questions about whether Daniels can protect himself and whether the team can give him enough help. The roster has been hit hard around him, too. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil tore his triceps in training camp, right guard Sam Cosmi is still recovering from a concussion he suffered in Week 2, and Terry McLaurin was out in Week 4 with a hamstring injury.
The ground game didn’t offer much relief Sunday either. Washington’s running backs finished with just 49 yards on 18 carries.
“For us, having run game is going to be a big deal,” Quinn said. “Hopefully, Sam’s on his way back up too.
So, when you’re putting those two together, to me, that’s the sweet spot where you can balance both of them together. We don’t want to make it where he’s a dropback player and 'Do all your magic every time.'”
Daniels previously missed four weeks, including three games and a bye, after his first dislocated elbow in 2025. He returned, then re-aggravated the injury, though Quinn said there was no further damage. With Washington out of the playoff picture, Daniels did not play again after that setback.
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Jason Kelce found himself in another clumsy on-air moment during the NFL International Series game between the Commanders and the Colts, when he slipped and used Washingtons former team name. Dave Pasch quickly corrected him on the broadcast, keeping the moment from lingering too long, but it was the kind of live-TV stumble that instantly stands out when the whole audience catches it in real time.
Kelce has already had a few of these awkward broadcast miscues lately, including a separate slip on Monday Night Football when he referred to the Eagles as "we." For Washington fans, it was another reminder that even in a game with an overseas spotlight, the conversation can drift away from the action on the field and into the broadcast booth. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders London Game Suddenly Feels Very Different Before Colts Matchup
The Commanders trip to London just picked up a different kind of weight. What was already an unusual early kickoff against the Colts on Oct. 4 now has a new quarterback storyline attached to it, with Jayden Daniels sidelined and Marcus Mariota set to make the start. Washington is also carrying a mixed injury picture into the game, with Sam Cosmi and Nick Cross ruled out while Frankie Luvu and Chig Okonkwo are back in the fold.
For a team trying to keep its footing on an international stage, the ripple effects are hard to ignore. A morning kickoff alone can alter the feel of a game, but losing Daniels changes the way Washington will have to approach everything from protection to tempo against Indianapolis, even as a few injured pieces return to help stabilize the roster. The matchup still has plenty of intrigue, but it now looks like a very different kind of test for the Commanders. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Now Face A Brutal Problem Heading Into Division Games
The Commanders left London not just with a loss to the Colts, but with a deeper sense of urgency heading into the division stretch. Playing with third-string quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis after injuries sidelined Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota, Washington was already operating under difficult conditions before Indianapolis pulled away for a 30-13 win. Jonathan Taylor powered the Colts with two rushing touchdowns, and Daniel Jones added another on the ground even while his passing day never quite got going.
For Washington, the bigger concern is how thin the offense looked by the end of the trip. Wide receiver Jaylin Lane also exited with an ankle injury, adding another health issue to a unit that is suddenly scrambling for answers. With division games up next, the Commanders are facing a stretch where every missing piece matters, and the margin for error already looks painfully small. [Read more 🡒]