The Washington Commanders’ injury woes continue, with Jayden Daniels sidelined after a dislocated elbow sustained in a Week 9 loss to Seattle. Initial fears of a season-ending setback were eased after scans revealed no ligament damage, meaning the quarterback won’t need surgery and has avoided a stint on injured reserve.
What Happened to Jayden Daniels?
Daniels is now expected to recover within three to six weeks, with a return possible after Washington’s Week 12 bye, potentially as early as Week 13.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, tests revealed Daniels’ injury isn’t as bad as first believed, as the young quarterback avoided ligament damage and he doesn’t need surgery.
“Commanders QB Jayden Daniels’ MRI and medical opinions revealed positive news, as his dislocated left elbow is not as serious as originally anticipated,” Rapoport reported. “There was no ligament damage and he won’t need surgery. Daniels will not be immediately placed on Injured Reserve.”
With Daniels avoiding IR, that means Washington believes he could be back before missing four games. His future this season, though, depends heavily on the Commanders’ playoff outlook, as the front office may keep him shut down if postseason hopes fade.
According to PFSN’s Playoff Predictor, the Commanders currently only have a 1.4% chance to make the playoffs. They actually have better chances at the first overall pick at 2.4%.
Before the injury, Daniels put up 1,184 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions, along with 262 rushing yards and two scores. His performance remains strong considering the battered offensive supporting cast and frequent changes in protection. Although not as prolific as 2024, he has still put up a 74.3 QB Impact Score and a C grade. He ranks 21st on the season.
PFSN’s QBi metric paints Daniels as one of the league’s most dynamic young talents, ranking him well above average in critical areas like efficiency from a clean pocket, EPA per dropback, and third/fourth-down conversions.
The numbers confirm that Washington’s offense loses much of its explosiveness without Daniels under center. With all of the injuries on the season, the Commanders have continued to keep a solid PFSN Offense Impact Score, sitting right outside the top 10 (11th).
Marcus Mariota will continue to get the nod while Daniels rehabs, but Washington’s approach may soon shift to preserving their promising quarterback long term. Mariota has started four games for the Commanders this season and has a C grade with a 74.9 Impact score.
If the Commanders slip further out of the playoff picture, expect the team to prioritize Daniels’ health above short-term results. Which means we might not see him play another snap this season.