There’s a reason NFL teams have a layered network of medical professionals and coaches and executives who all ultimately get assay on who gets to return from injuries and when.
The reason is that by the time an athlete gets to that level — by the time they’re the 1 percent of the 1 percent who play in the NFL — almost all of them are essentially willing to put their own health and future at risk to get back on the field. It’s kind of what got them to that level in the first place. Try being that good at something, once in your life, then someone saying you can’t do it. Rational thought usually goes out the window.
Such is the case, it seems, with Washington Commanders second year quarterback Jayden Daniels, who has missed time for 3 separate injuries this season but now seems dead set on coming back again this year. Which isn’t smart.
“If I’m healthy and ready to go, I want to be out there,” Daniels said in a video posted by NFL reporter Ben Standig on his official X account on Tuesday, November 25.
Daniels is currently out with a dislocated left elbow suffered in a Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and has missed the last 2 games. The Commanders have lost 6 consecutive games and are 3-8 headed into a Week 13 home game against the 9-2 Denver Broncos.
Daniels missed 2 games after he sprained his knee in a Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers then missed 1 game after he injured his hamstring in a Week 7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Daniels Returns to Practice After Injury
The latest injury was the most disturbing, when Daniels’s left arm appeared to get twisted totally around in a blowout loss to the Seahawks.
Somehow, he avoided any ligament damage or broken bones.
“A terrifying injury,” Barstool Sports wrote on its official X account. “Prayers for Jayden Daniels.”
Daniels took a big step by returning to practice this week following a bye for the Commanders in Week 12.
“Commanders QB Jayden Daniels was evaluated coming out of Washington’s bye and sources say this Sunday’s game against the Broncos is a long-shot,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on November 24. “But Daniels will return to practice this week. Progress from his dislocated elbow.”
One Scenario Playing Daniels Makes Sense
There is a scenario in which the Commanders might want to bring Daniels back.
The first part of that requires them to upset the Broncos in Week 13 — a long shot — but if they do and Daniels is available to play in Week 14 on the road against the Minnesota Vikings, he would give them their best shot to win.
If the Commanders can win those games, it would put them at 5-8 headed into a final, 4-game stretch against all NFC East opponents — a highly winnable game at the New York Giants in Week 15 followed by a murderer’s row in the final 3 games, with the Philadelphia Eagles twice, in Week 16 and Week 18, sandwiched by a Christmas Day home game against the Cowboys in Week 17.
If the Commanders can run the table and go 9-8, there’s still an outside shot they make the playoffs for a second consecutive season. All they have to do is run the table the rest of the way.
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