Jayden Daniels wants to be out there. That much is clear.
And honestly, you can’t fault the guy - he’s wired like a competitor. He wants to lead, wants to grow, wants to fight through the tough stretches with his teammates.
That’s what you want from your franchise quarterback. But the Washington Commanders have to ask themselves a tougher question: Should he be out there?
Daniels is returning from a dislocated elbow, and he’s set to play in Week 14. That alone raises some eyebrows, especially when you remember how he got hurt in the first place - still on the field late in a blowout, with the Commanders trailing by 31 points and just seven minutes to go. A meaningless snap in a game long decided, and it nearly cost them their most important player.
Now zoom out a bit. That game?
It’s a pretty accurate snapshot of the Commanders’ season. Washington enters Week 14 at 3-9.
Technically, they’re still alive in the playoff picture - but only in the way that a team can be when the math hasn't officially closed the door yet. Realistically, the 2025 season is over.
The focus now has to be on 2026 and beyond.
Which brings us back to Daniels. The Commanders need him healthy for Week 1 next season.
That’s the priority. That’s the whole ballgame.
Because no matter how promising he’s looked in flashes - and there have been plenty - none of it matters if he can’t stay on the field. And while this isn’t exactly a repeat of the Robert Griffin III situation, where Washington pushed a young QB through injury and paid the price long-term, the echoes are there.
The franchise has lived this before. That history should inform how they handle this.
Now, maybe the plan is to get Daniels a few more starts - get him some more live reps, build chemistry, and then shut him down for the final stretch. That’s a reasonable approach if the medical staff is confident he’s not at risk of aggravating the injury.
But that’s a big if. Elbow injuries, especially on a quarterback’s non-throwing arm, can be deceptive.
They don’t always scream for attention - until they do.
The Commanders might argue that playing Daniels helps them evaluate the rest of the roster. That it gives them cleaner film on the offensive line, the receivers, the play-calling.
And sure, there’s value in that. But it’s marginal compared to the risk.
Because if Daniels takes another hit and suffers a setback, it’s not just this season that takes a hit - it’s next season, and maybe the one after that.
Washington has a lot of work to do this offseason. They’ll likely be drafting high again.
They have a new front office trying to build a sustainable foundation. But none of that matters if they don’t protect their most valuable asset.
Jayden Daniels is the future. And sometimes, the smartest move for the future is knowing when to hit pause in the present.
Daniels wants to play. That’s what you want from your quarterback.
But the Commanders have to think bigger. They have to think long-term.
Because in a lost season, the only thing worse than losing games - is risking the guy who’s supposed to help you win them for years to come.