The Washington Commanders may not have to wait as long as expected for Jayden Daniels to get back on the field.
After Daniels dislocated his left elbow and looked like he might be done for the season, head coach Dan Quinn said there’s at least a chance the quarterback could be available this week against the New York Giants.
"That's the hope for us for sure, [Jayden] coming back," Quinn said, per CBS.
Quinn laid out the plan for Daniels to ramp up through the week, with the goal of getting a full slate of work in practice.
"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."
That would be a stunning turnaround considering how ugly the injury looked. Daniels, the former LSU standout, appeared to be facing a long absence after the elbow injury.
Washington has already been forced to adjust behind center. Marcus Mariota was starting in place of Daniels, and after Mariota went down with an injury of his own, the Commanders had to turn to third-stringer Athan Kaliakmanis in Week 5 against the Indianapolis Colts in London. The result was a 30-13 loss.
Mariota had played well the previous week against the Seattle Seahawks, but his status now adds another layer of uncertainty for Washington as it heads into the Giants game.
For now, the Commanders are holding out hope that Daniels can return sooner rather than later. Given the way he has competed and pushed through injuries before, Washington is clearly preparing for the possibility that he could be back in the mix quickly. And with the Giants sitting in first place in the NFC East at 3-1, the Commanders could use him.
In Other News...
Commanders Face A Week 5 Problem That Could Change Everything
The Giants come into their Week 5 meeting with Washington at 3-1, and the tone around this matchup has changed quickly thanks to their offensive uptick under Jameis Winston. For the Commanders, the bigger issue is less about the opponents record and more about their own quarterback situation, which has been clouded by injuries to Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota. In a division game, that kind of uncertainty can turn every possession into a referendum on depth, protection and preparation.
Washington has spent the early part of the week trying to sort through what it can reasonably expect under center, while also weighing how the rest of the offense fits if the available options are limited. The matchup now carries a different kind of pressure, because a divisional loss is one thing, but an unsettled quarterback picture can shape more than one game if it lingers. The Commanders do not just need a plan for Sunday, they need a read on how much of their season can survive this stretch intact. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Offense Just Took A Risky Turn Fans Didn't Expect
Athan Kaliakmanis got his first NFL action Sunday as the Commanders third-string quarterback, a spot he reached after injuries knocked Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota out of the picture. The debut offered a quick look at why Washington has been intrigued by him: he pushed the ball downfield, flashed a strong arm and still managed to move the offense in a game where the team needed someone willing to take chances.
Kaliakmanis finished with 186 yards, but the tape also showed the tradeoff that comes with that style, including an interception and the constant pressure created by an offensive line that has been battered by injuries. Washingtons hope is that some reinforcements around him can steady things, because the Commanders clearly saw enough in the rookie to let him open up the passing game rather than play it safe. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Changes Everything For Commanders Heading Into Giants Game
Jayden Daniels is set to be back under center in Week 5 against the Giants, a development that gives Washington a very different feel heading into the matchup. After dislocating his elbow in Week 2, Daniels has worked his way toward a return while Dan Quinn has made it clear the plan is for him to get a full week of practice before taking the field again.
The timing matters even more because Washingtons quarterback room has already been tested, with Marcus Mariota injured in Week 4 and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis pressed into the start. Getting Daniels back would stabilize the offense and reset the conversation around the Commanders just as the division schedule starts to tighten, but the final step before kickoff is still getting him through the week the way the staff wants. [Read more 🡒]