The Washington Commanders got a major update on starting QB Jayden Daniels ahead of their Week 13 game against the Broncos. Daniels has been out since Week 9 when he suffered a dislocated elbow late in a blowout loss to the Seahawks. It’s the second stretch of time Daniels has missed this season after missing two games with a leg injury early in the season.
According to Adam Schefter, ESPN’s NFL insider, Daniels practiced all week in a “limited capacity.” He’s already been ruled out against Denver, and he hasn’t yet been cleared for contact as he attempts to return from injury. That’s still a major hurdle Daniels will have to overcome before he can return to the field in a game setting.
Daniels would like to play if he’s healthy, but it’s unclear when that will be. It’s possible he could make his return in Week 14 against Minnesota, but we should have a better idea of his timeline as he practices next week. Until he’s cleared for contact, he’ll be a ways out from making his return.
Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniel Couldn’t Replicate His Rookie Success
Greg Fiume/GettyLANDOVER, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 02: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders runs the ball against Drake Thomas #42 of the Seattle Seahawks during the fourth quarter in the game at Northwest Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
After a sensational college career at Arizona State and LSU, Daniels was selected No. 2 overall by the Commanders in the 2024 draft. He hit the ground running in his first season, winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award behind 3,568 passing yards and 25 touchdowns to nine interceptions, completing passes at a 69-percent clip. Daniels added 891 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground, quickly establishing himself as one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the league.
The Commanders overachieved last year, winning 12 games and making a surprise run to the NFC Championship Game, knocking off the Bucs and the Lions (the NFC’s No. 1 seed) along the way. In every sense of the word, Daniels was special, and Washington entered this season with a lot of optimism to continue working towards a championship.
This season, Daniels has thrown for 1,184 yards and eight touchdowns to two interceptions at a 62.5 percent completion rate in six games. On top of that, he’s added 262 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The Washington Commanders Need to Undergo a Mini Roster Reset
In addition to Daniels’ middling production, the Commanders have the oldest roster in the NFL, and the team kind of fell apart around Daniels. Injuries to his wide receivers and running backs, combined with regression from the offensive line, hamstrung this offense even when Daniels was on the field. His injuries only added to the Commanders’ woes.
Additionally, Washington has the league’s worst secondary and a non-existent pass rush. All told, the Commanders are working on a 3-8 season, a far cry from the lofty heights they expected to reach. They need to get younger and add talent in the trenches, but that’s easier said than done.
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