The early number for Sunday’s Giants-Commanders matchup is already tilting toward Washington, and the reason is pretty clear: Jayden Daniels is expected back.
Washington opened Week 5 as a three-point favorite at home, but that line has moved to 3.5 with Daniels on track to return after missing the last two games with a dislocated elbow. Commanders coach Dan Quinn said he expects Daniels to practice in full this week, a sign that the quarterback’s comeback is moving in the right direction.
That matters because Washington’s offense has been stuck without him. The Commanders also lost veteran Marcus Mariota to a knee injury in the Week 4 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, and he is expected to miss some time. That leaves Daniels as the clear swing factor for a team that has only one win this season.
The market has reacted accordingly, even if the betting splits are pointing the other way. DraftKings Sportsbook says 60 percent of spread bets and 56 percent of moneyline bets are on the Giants, who are 3-1 and coming off back-to-back wins over Tennessee and Arizona with Jameis Winston filling in for the injured Jaxson Dart.
Washington’s backup situation only adds to the urgency. Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis started in place of Mariota in Week 4 and finished 15 of 33 for 186 yards, one touchdown and one interception. That kind of output makes it easy to see why Daniels’ return is driving the line.
The former No. 2 overall pick has played fewer than two full games this season because of the elbow injury, but multiple reports say the issue cannot get worse this year. Surgery may still be on the table in the offseason, but for now Daniels appears set to keep playing through it as long as he can.
Before going down against Dallas in Week 2, Daniels looked like the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year version of himself, completing 11 of 17 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. For Washington, that’s the version that changes everything about this matchup.
It will be worth watching whether the number shifts again as the week goes on, especially with the Giants drawing the early betting support. Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.
In Other News...
Giants Just Got A Tougher NFC East Problem To Prepare For
The Commanders came out of their Week 5 loss in London with more than a bad result, and they may have come home with a major piece of good news. Jayden Daniels exited against the Colts with a dislocated left elbow, but Dan Quinn said the starting quarterback is reportedly on track to potentially return as soon as next week against the Giants.
Washington had to finish the game with Marcus Mariota after Daniels went down, then turned to third-string quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis when Mariota was injured as well. For a Giants team trying to prepare for the division trip ahead, Daniels' possible return changes the picture quickly, especially with Washington hoping to get its offense back to something closer to whole. [Read more 🡒]
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 🡒]