The Denver Broncos are preparing as if they won’t see Jayden Daniels on Sunday Night Football.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Washington Commanders quarterback was re-evaluated coming out of the bye and is considered a “long-shot” to play against Denver, even though he’s expected to return to practice this week after dislocating his left elbow.
That points toward veteran Marcus Mariota as the likely starter when the Broncos visit Washington in Week 13.
Jayden Daniels Now a ‘Long-Shot’ for Broncos-Commanders
Daniels’ status has been hanging over this matchup since he went down late in Washington’s Week 9 blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He suffered a dislocated left elbow on a hit from linebacker Drake Thomas, leaving the field with his arm immobilized.
As Heavy previously detailed from the Seahawks side, the play itself was a routine tackle that turned ugly when Daniels’ arm bent at the wrong angle, sparking debate about why Washington left its franchise quarterback in a 38-7 game.
The good news for Washington has been that imaging showed no ligament damage and no need for surgery, which kept Daniels off injured reserve and left the door cracked for a post-bye return. Rapoport’s latest update closes that door most of the way for Sunday, even as Daniels gets back on the practice field.
For Denver, it likely means a different dual-threat quarterback, and a very different game plan.
What Facing Marcus Mariota Means for the Broncos
From the Broncos’ standpoint, this is less about catching a break and more about swapping scouting reports.
Daniels is the more explosive runner and creator, but Mariota still brings mobility and years of NFL experience. The 32-year-old has already made starts for Washington this season and is coming off an overtime loss in Madrid that included a brutal interception on the first play of OT.
Denver’s defense has been the backbone of its rise to the top of the AFC. As Heavy recently broke down in a playoff-picture and rooting-guide piece, the Broncos hit their bye on an eight-game winning streak and holding the conference’s No. 1 seed.
The Commanders, meanwhile, have been sliding. Washington has dropped six straight and has been hammered by turnovers and special-teams miscues. This feels like a “handle your business” assignment for a Broncos team with real Super Bowl aspirations.
Spotlight Stays on Broncos in SNF Window
All of this is happening in a game the league very easily could have moved out of primetime, but didn’t.
As previously reported, the NFL chose to keep Broncos-Commanders in the Week 13 Sunday Night Football slot instead of flexing in another matchup, betting on Denver’s surge, the D.C. market and the possibility of Daniels’ return.
Even if Daniels ultimately can’t go, the national stage still matters for Denver. It’s their first game out of the bye, a chance to reaffirm the narrative from Heavy’s recent playoff-picture story that the road to the Super Bowl could run through Mile High, and another showcase for a defense Joseph says was designed for nights exactly like this.
If Daniels is surprisingly cleared late in the week, the Broncos will have to be ready for both quarterbacks. But as of now, all signs point to Mariota under the lights, and another opportunity for Denver to look like a “gold star franchise” in front of a national audience
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