The second season of Jayden Daniels’ career offered a ton of promise. After logging in what many believed to be the greatest rookie season from a quarterback in NFL history, Daniels and the Washington Commanders came into the 2025 season with a ton of expectations attached to them. However, after three weeks, those aspirations have hit a very large speed bump.
After missing their game against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3, all signs point to a similar situation unfolding in Week 4. After injury concerns plagued his evaluation in the draft, the start of his sophomore year hasn’t helped assuage those doubts, especially after his production already took a dip in his rookie season with a lingering injury.
What has happened this year to cause Daniels to miss time and Washington to promote Marcus Mariota in his stead instead?
What Happened to Jayden Daniels?
After an electric run at LSU, Daniels came into the league with a ton of hype, despite questions about his frame. Almost immediately, he proved his value by flipping the narrative for the Commanders on its head.
Leading them to 12 wins and a playoff berth (after they finished 4-13 in 2023), his stock further improved in the postseason, as they reached the NFC Championship Game thanks in large part to his exploits.
As a result, Washington was willing to spend big in the offseason to potentially field a Super Bowl-caliber roster around their superstar quarterback. However, his season has taken an early-season bump.
Starting with a solid performance in Week 1 to register a win over the New York Giants, his numbers dipped in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers. Against their ferocious defense, Daniels was sacked on four separate occasions.
As a result, he suffered what has been diagnosed publicly as a knee sprain. But its exact severity is unknown, with the injury causing him to miss two straight games for the Commanders. Last week, against Las Vegas, the team was able to survive without him.
However, a Week 4 clash against the Atlanta Falcons doesn’t offer the same guarantee. Even though last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year claims he feels fine and is ready to return to the field, the team’s medical staff hasn’t shared that same optimism.
As head coach Dan Quinn confirmed, “He’s working incredibly hard, round the clock, to get back. Ultimately, doctors haven’t cleared him just yet.” So far, his frame has been an issue in both seasons of his young career.
While a rib fracture in Week 7 did not derail his season entirely in 2024, it did cause a noticeable dip in his numbers. This year, the knee issue has kept him out of two games already. The talent from Daniels is undeniable. But the injury concerns, which existed before the draft as well, are only compounding as time goes on.
