The Washington Commanders season opener against the New York Giants doesn’t seem like it was 3 month ago. After one of the most miserable seasons in recent memory — which is saying a lot — it seems like 3 year ago.
That misery comes full circle in Week 15 when the Commanders travel to face the equally miserable Giants, who fired head coach Brian Daboll midway through the season, in a game that’s meaningless outside of who gets to pick where in the 2026 NFL draft.
The Commanders, unlike when they faced the Giants in the opener, won’t have quarterback Jayden Daniels for the rematch as he’s out after re-injuring his left elbow in a 31-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14.
Daniels dislocated his left elbow in a Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks and missed 3 games before returning against the Vikings. This will be the fourth separate time this season Daniels has missed time due to injuries.
“There were no structural setbacks for Jayden Daniels,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on Wednesday, November 10. “But after medical evaluations, the doctors have advised he not play on Sunday, and he will be re-evaluated next week.”
Veteran backup Marcus Mariota will make his seventh start in place of Daniels and is 1-5 this season as the starter.
The Commanders made several more roster moves, putting tight end Zach Ertz on injured reserve after he tore his ACL against the Vikings along with signing running back Chase Edmonds to the 53-man roster and signing veteran cornerback Kevon Seymour to the practice squad.
Long Term Concerns Exist for Daniels
The good vibes from a bravura rookie season for Daniels have pretty much gone by the wayside after the Commanders went all in on what they thought would be a Super Bowl run in 2025.
While Daniels seemed invincible at times in 2024, blood is in the water after 2025. It might not be pretty moving forward.
“Jayden Daniels has either been unavailable for or injured in 11 of the Commanders’ 14 games this season,” Take Command Pod’s Grant Paulsen wrote on his official X account. “If he can stay on the field next season, perhaps we can look back at this year and say his issues all just stemmed from his being in and out of the lineup.”
Before the dislocated left elbow, which will sideline him for a fourth game, Daniels missed 2 games with a knee sprain and missed 1 game with a hamstring injury.
“A lot of fans and folks want Jayden Daniels bubble-wrapped until 2026,” NFL reporter Ben Standig wrote on his official X account. “But that logic leads to one conclusion: you don’t trust him to stay healthy. If so… then what?”
Commanders Ready to Flip Page to 2026
The Commanders currently have the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft — an unexpected thing to happen after going 12-5 overall and making the NFC Championship Game in 2024.
Getting a pick that high could mean an impact starter on either side of the ball and it will also mean a much more forgiving schedule next season.
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