Dan Quinn doesn’t need a calendar to know where his Commanders stand. At 1-3, after a loss to the Indianapolis Colts and a brutal stretch of injuries, Washington has already wandered into territory where every game starts feeling like a referendum.
The most obvious jolt is the return of Jayden Daniels. Quinn said the plan is for Daniels to get a full week of practice before he goes back into the starting lineup, and that matters now more than ever with Marcus Mariota out because of an MCL sprain.
Washington found itself in a much different place before Mariota got hurt in London, but the league doesn’t hand out style points. The Commanders are being judged on the record, and right now that record is thin.
That’s part of what makes the current run so troubling. Washington has dropped three of four this season, and the bigger-picture number is even harsher: 3-13 over its last 16 regular-season games dating back to last season. That kind of slide doesn’t just sting - it puts a coach and a locker room under a microscope.
Still, Quinn isn’t backing away from his group. He believes the Commanders have the right makeup to fight out of this and stop the slide before it gets worse.
The effort has been there in spots, including the win over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and the fight they showed against the Colts despite all the injury chaos. But as Quinn knows, effort only buys you so much.
The next test is the kind that can define a season early. The 3-1 New York Giants are coming in, and Washington has to treat this as a must-win. Dropping to 1-4 before a Monday Night Football matchup with the San Francisco 49ers would put the whole thing in danger of unraveling.
Daniels could help steady the ship, even if he doesn’t fix everything by himself. Quinn said the quarterback may be able to mask some issues if he can play without restrictions while wearing an elbow brace. That’s the hope in Washington, because with Mariota sidelined, the offense needs Daniels back to have a chance to keep pace.
The Giants, meanwhile, are without their starting quarterback and star edge rusher, but they’ve kept finding ways to win. John Harbaugh is leading them superbly, and that makes the challenge even sharper for Washington at Northwest Stadium.
Quinn can set the tone, but the rest has to come from the players. The Commanders need a cleaner game, a better response, and a win that stops the bleeding. Anything less, and the pressure only gets heavier.
In Other News...
Jayden Daniels Gives Commanders Hope With One Huge Question Still Lingering
Jayden Daniels was back on the practice field Wednesday and went through a full session after missing two games, a welcome development for a Commanders team that has been trying to navigate life without its rookie quarterback. Washington expects him to play against the New York Giants, and he is doing so with a brace on his elbow, a reminder that even his return comes with a degree of caution.
The bigger concern is what comes after this week. The Commanders still have not signed another quarterback, leaving Daniels as the clear centerpiece of the offense for now, even as there is lingering uncertainty about whether his elbow will need surgery after the season. For a team trying to stay competitive, getting him back matters, but so does whatever happens next with an injury that could follow him well beyond Sunday. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Return Wont End This Commanders Problem
Jayden Daniels is set to return after missing two games with an elbow injury, which is obviously a lift for Washington as it tries to steady an offense that has been juggling injuries at a few spots. His presence alone changes the conversation at quarterback, and the Commanders are counting on that to help restore some rhythm after a stretch without him.
The wider issue, though, may still be at receiver, where Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs both missed practice with hamstring injuries. McLaurin has already sat out a recent game, and if both wideouts remain limited, Antonio Williams could keep seeing the heavier workload and targets that have made him a more important part of the passing game than anyone expected at this point. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Return Comes With One Big Concern For Commanders Fans
Jayden Daniels is on track to return Sunday against the Giants after missing time with a left elbow injury, giving Washington the kind of lift it badly wanted as it gets back into a regular rhythm. He was a full participant in practice, a strong sign that the Commanders are moving toward getting their quarterback back on the field after a frustrating stretch on the sideline.
The lingering issue is not whether Daniels is close, but how he will feel once the game speed picks back up. Washington is still watching his recovery carefully to make sure he can function comfortably, and the team has not been shy about treating this as a step-by-step process. Dan Quinn said Daniels is expected to start if there are no setbacks, leaving the final bit of confirmation to the weekend itself. [Read more 🡒]