The Washington Commanders are protecting him from himself, but Jayden Daniels isn’t about to thank them for it. Not when last season’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year can’t contain his frustration about this injury-hit campaign and his sophomore slump.
Daniels spoke out about the Commanders deciding to shut him down for the final four games of this season after he aggravated an elbow injury. The second-overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft didn’t mince words when he revealed, “I don’t want to miss games at all. I’ve been frustrated this whole season missing games. I want to be out there to help my teammates as much possible. It’s been a frustrating year,” per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
It sure sounds like Daniels would play if he had his way, but the Commanders letting backup Marcus Mariota finish out the season shows they aren’t about to give ground on what’s become an issue fraught with controversy.
Commanders Made Tough Call About QB1
Balancing the need to stay competitive and give Daniels valuable reps, against safeguarding his health, has been growing into a major dilemma for the Commanders.
They opted against a shutdown roughly a month ago when concerns about what holding Daniels out would do for team chemistry prevailed. Things changed once Daniels was forced out of Week 14’s 31-0 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings.
It was supposed to be a triumphant return after Daniels had dislocated his elbow against the Seattle Seahawks five weeks later. Instead, Daniels’ latest ailment led to the curtain coming down on a season to forget.
Jayden Daniels at a Crucial Point in Development
A knee sprain in Week 2, followed by a hamstring strain five weeks later, had already made this a gruelling second year in the pros for Daniels. He’s barely had the chance to add some nuance to the natural playmaking flair that took the league by surprise a year ago.
Daniels still has work to do as a passer, while making smarter decisions when he runs remains a pressing need. It will be easier for the Commanders to protect their prized asset if Daniels gets better at protecting himself.
Even with more work on the finer points of his game, Daniels will need the Commanders to offer a superior supporting cast. He must be equipped with another big play threat or two alongside go-to target Terry McLaurin in the wide receiver corps, while the Commanders can get younger at tight end after 35-year-old Zach Ertz suffered a torn ACL against the Vikings.
Ultimately, the Commanders are going to require Daniels to play within an offense built around his dual-threat talents. It’s going to mean moving pockets, bootleg passes and lots of play-action concepts for a quarterback also prepared to hand the ball off multiple times to fuel a run-heavy system.
Those are the things Mariota did successfully during the 29-21 win over the New York Giants in Week 15. Mariota’s career path can be a lesson for Daniels because the veteran initially dominated the league with spectacular plays on the ground and through the air, but he’s steadily had to devolve into a system passer content to manage a game and lean on the run.
Daniels won’t ever be simply a game-manager, but he can refine a more efficient style once he’s fully healthy. He may not be happy about having to wait until 2026 to start the process, but Daniels should take the opportunity to study Mariota more closely the next few weeks.
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