As much as Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels says he wants to return from a dislocated left elbow to play this season, there are still benchmarks in place to make sure he doesn’t rush back.
One of those is — no surprise — a medical professional determining it’s safe for him to take contact. That hasn’t happened yet.
“Jayden Daniels still not cleared for contact – ‘he’s still going through that process.’ ” NBC Sports Washington D.C.’s JP Finlay wrote on his official X account on Monday, December 1. “Probably no official word til Friday.”
Daniels is 2-4 in 6 starts this season and has missed 6 games due to 3 separate injuries; sprained knee, hamstring pull and the elbow injury against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9.
The Commanders dropped to 3-0 with a 27-26 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 13 and have lost 7 consecutive games — 4 with Daniels starting at quarterback and 3 with Marcus Mariota as the starter.
Daniels Already Declared Intention to Return
Daniels has already declared his desire to return this season, record be damned.
In his defense, the Commanders did make the playoffs with a losing record in recent years when they went 7-9 and made it to the NFC Wild Card Round in 2020.
“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 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.
His latest injury was the most disturbing, with his left arm seeming to get twisted totally around but Daniels was able to miraculously avoid any ligament damage or broken bones. Chalk that one up to being 24 years old and one of the most gifted athletes in professional sports.
Daniels took a big step by returning to practice last 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.”
‘Outrage’ if Commanders Decide to Play Daniels
There is one school of thought that starting Daniels again this year would show a high level of irresponsible behavior on the part of the Commanders.
That’s not what any Commanders fan wants to hear just over a decade removed from an injury debacle with another promising young quarterback in 2012 No. 2 overall pick Robert Griffin III.
Daniels, like Griffin, was the No. 2 overall pick in the draft. Like Griffin, he was also a Heisman Trophy winner and the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. Like Griffin, he’s also a dual threat quarterback — Daniels set the NFL rookie quarterback rushing record with 891 yards in 2024.
“It would be an outrage if the Commanders started Jayden Daniels again this year,” The Ringer’s Joe House said on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” on Tuesday, November 25. “You just can’t do it. If he gets hurt again and misses time for 2026 … that would be such a disservice to him and to the whole franchise.”
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