The Washington Commanders are enduring a difficult season. They are 4-10 and sit third in the NFC East. Moreover, they have been officially eliminated from playoff contention. While many attribute the struggles to the team’s overall performance, some fans have placed the blame on quarterback Jayden Daniels.
However, the former second overall pick dislocated his left elbow during the Commanders’ 31-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14. As if things were not bad enough, the injury added to the mounting physical toll he has endured this season.
Jayden Daniels’ Injury Details
The injury against the Vikings was not the only one Daniels suffered this season. He sustained a knee sprain in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers. Another injury followed in Week 7 when the Commanders faced the Dallas Cowboys.
In Week 9, Daniels dislocated his elbow in a game against the Seattle Seahawks. Even after that setback, Washington initially intended for him to play the final five games of the season. But he was ruled out ahead of the Week 15 matchup against the New York Giants.
Now, the team does not expect him to play in the remaining games. As reported by Ian Rapoport on X, league sources indicated the Commanders have decided to shut down the rookie quarterback for the final three contests, shifting his focus to supporting Marcus Mariota.
What Is the Update on Daniels’ Injury?
The NFL insider later provided an update on Tuesday that included Daniels’ own perspective.
Rapoport wrote on X, “Speaking today, Jayden Daniels told reporters, ‘I don’t want to miss games at all. I’ve been frustrated this whole season, missing games. I want to be out there to help my teammates as much possible. It’s been a frustrating year.'”
Although Daniels will not appear in games, he is expected to remain active in practice. Head coach Dan Quinn said the decision was a “part medical and part team” call, aimed at allowing Daniels to recover while participating in limited work and enter the offseason as healthy as possible.
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“I’ll be out there practicing whatever they need me to do,” Daniels said, responding to the proposal. “If I gotta do scout team, I’ll have fun with that and give the best looks.”
While the optimism is encouraging, Commanders fans will not see the promising quarterback take the field again this season. Based on his current performance, Daniels ranks 26th in PFSN’s Quarterback Impact metric with a score of 71.7.
Washington Commanders’ Stats and Insights for Week 16
Team: The Washington Commanders snapped an eight-game losing streak with a 29-21 win over the New York Giants. It was the second time this season that Washington scored more than 27 points after having seven games over 27 points last season.
QB: Marcus Mariota’s PFSN Quarterback Impact (QBi) grade over the last four games has been a C or C+, which has ranked him between 11th and 19th for the week.
Offense:Â The Commanders are tied for the third-best percentage for touchdowns per red zone trip. They have found the end zone in 66.7% of the time when they get into the red zone.
Defense: Washington has allowed opponents to gain 4.7 yards per rush this season. It is the sixth highest in the league. Last season, the Commanders allowed 4.8 yards per rush, which was the fifth-highest in the NFL.
Fantasy: Terry McLaurin has a TD in three of his past four and a 25+ yard catch in four of his past five games. The Commanders are down their QB1, but their WR1 remains plenty viable.
