Some NFL players are just built differently. Like literally their bone structure might be different than any other human being on earth.
One of those players is Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who will return to the lineup in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings after he suffered what appeared to be a season-ending arm injury in a Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
“Commanders QB Jayden Daniels has been fully cleared and will start on Sunday against the Vikings,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on Friday, December 5. “Coach Dan Quinn just made it official, but Daniels being a full participant for the first time since a dislocated elbow on Thursday was the big hint.”
The Commanders are 3-9 overall and have lost 7 consecutive games, including a heartbreaking, 27-26 overtime loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 13.
Daniels has missed 6 games this season with a variety of injuries. He sprained his knee in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers and missed 2 games. He missed one game after he pulled his hamstring against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7.
The Commanders are 2-4 with Daniels as the starter and 1-5 with backup Marcus Mariota.
Daniels seemed loose at practice on Friday, where he danced with backup Sam Hartman between drills.
Commanders Facing Elimination Win or Lose
Daniels has openly stated he wanted to play again this season no matter what the Commanders record was.
“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.
He now returns in a game where they could be eliminated whether they win or lose.
From Bleacher Report: “The Commanders could be eliminated from playoff contention as soon as Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. Even if they manage to win that game, the Philadelphia Eagles not losing on Monday Night Football against the Los Angeles Chargers will knock them out.”
The Commanders will almost certainly miss the playoffs just one year after making the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991.
“I can’t wrap my head around the number of people who call in each day to say they’d shut a healthy Jayden Daniels down for the rest of the year,” Take Command podcast host Grant Paulsen wrote on his official X account. “Insane to me. He’s a second year QB who needs time on the field (practice and games). There are still FIVE games left. 29% of the season. And people just want to punt on those valuable opportunities for development? Absurd.”
Injury to Daniels Could Jeopardize 2026
While there are those who applaud Daniels for being tough enough and loyal enough to his teammates to come back and play meaningless games, it should also be with the understanding if he gets hurt again then 2026 could be another lost season.
“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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