The Washington Commanders have decided to shut down quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) for the final three games of the 2025 season, sources tell Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Daniels was re-evaluated on Monday and was not cleared, so the Commanders have decided to sit the second-year signal-caller for the rest of the year since they are eliminated from postseason contention. Veteran Marcus Mariota will close out the year running Washington's offense. The 24-year-old missed his seventh game of the year in Sunday's win over the New York Giants. Daniels suffered a gruesome dislocation of his left elbow in Week 9 and didn't return until Week 14, when he aggravated the injury. The former second overall pick had an amazing rookie campaign, but he'll end 2025 with only 1,262 passing yards, eight TDs, and three interceptions in seven games. Daniels could easily bounce back in 2026, but there are some serious concerns about his durability now after he missed time with elbow, hamstring, and knee injuries this year.
Dec 15, 2025 3:33 PM EST
Correcting a previous report, Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said on Friday that quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) has not been cleared for contact yet, per The Athletic's Nicki Jhabvala. Daniels suffered a dislocated left (non-throwing) elbow in Week 9 and didn't return until last week's blowout loss to the Minnesota Vikings, when Daniels aggravated his elbow injury. The Commanders already ruled Daniels out for the Week 15 game this Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants, but they are saying that the door is still open for him to play in the final three weeks of the season if he gains clearance from doctors. In what has been an injury-plagued season for the 24-year-old QB -- the former second overall pick has played in only seven games due to elbow, hamstring, and knee injuries -- it makes sense for the Commanders to just shut him down. For at least another week, veteran Marcus Mariota will make the start under center for the team.
Dec 12, 2025 2:18 PM EST
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said on Friday that quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) has been cleared for contact and "his health will be the driving factor" in determining his status for the final three games of the season, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. Daniels returned to action for the first time since dislocating his left (non-throwing) elbow in Week 9 in last Sunday's blowout loss to the Minnesota Vikings and aggravated his elbow. The 24-year-old second-year signal-caller will not play this Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants, but Washington isn't ruling him out for the final three weeks. After a phenomenal rookie campaign in which he led the Commanders to the NFC Championship, Daniels has been bitten by the injury bug in 2025, playing in only seven games due to elbow, hamstring, and knee ailments. If Daniels does return in the final three weeks, he'll be on the QB1/2 borderline in fantasy football.
Dec 12, 2025 12:53 PM EST
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said that the team is not talking about shutting down quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) for the year, according to Tom Schad of Post Sports. Daniels has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the New York Giants after aggravating his left elbow during last week's loss to the Minnesota Vikings in his first game since dislocating his elbow in Week 9. The second-year quarterback is expected to play again this season, as the injury is not considered to be a long-term issue, but the possibility that Daniels doesn't return this season appears more likely now. The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year's sophomore season has been overshadowed by injury, as he also missed two games to a knee injury and one game to a hamstring injury before his elbow issue. Marcus Mariota is set to make his seventh start of the year in Week 15 versus the Giants at MetLife Stadium.
Dec 10, 2025 3:05 PM EST
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said that quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) will not play on Sunday against the division-rival New York Giants, according to Tashan Reed of The Washington Post. Veteran Marcus Mariota will make another start this weekend. Daniels aggravated his left (non-throwing) elbow in Sunday's shutout loss to the Minnesota Vikings in his first game back since dislocating the same elbow back in Week 9. The Commanders have said that the 24-year-old will play again this year, but with the team out of the playoff picture, it wouldn't be a surprise if they eventually shut him down. The good news is that Daniels' elbow injury won't keep him out long-term. The former second overall pick has had his sophomore season derailed by injuries in 2025, as he also missed several games earlier this year with a knee injury. He has thrown for 1,262 yards, eight touchdowns, and three picks in seven starts while adding 278 rushing yards and two TDs on 58 carries.
Dec 10, 2025 12:41 PM EST
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said that doctors examined quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) on Monday and said there are no long-term concerns after he aggravated his dislocated left elbow in the Week 14 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, according to John Keim of ESPN. Daniels has soreness in his elbow, but there is no update yet as to whether the second-year signal-caller will be available to play in Week 15 against the division-rival New York Giants. Quinn said after Sunday's loss that the 24-year-old Daniels could have gone back into the game, but he decided to leave him out in a blowout. It's fair to wonder why the Commanders would even risk playing Daniels while they are well out of playoff contention. Daniels went 9-for-20 passing for 78 yards, no touchdowns, and a pick in his first game since Week 9, adding 16 rushing yards on four carries. Veteran Marcus Mariota would start this weekend if the Commanders decide Daniels needs more time off.
Dec 8, 2025 3:50 PM EST
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) is still expected to play again this season despite exiting Sunday's Week 14 contest with an injury. Head coach Dan Quinn said that Daniels could have returned to the game, but the team decided to exercise caution and hold him out. He also noted that Daniels will return this season, and he won't be shut down. "It's an important development time for him," Quinn said. Injuries have plagued the 24-year-old in his second pro season, as he has missed part of eight different games. It sounds like Daniels has a chance to play in Week 15 against the New York Giants, giving the Commanders an opportunity to bounce back from this weekend's 31-0 loss against Minnesota. If Daniels can't suit up, Marcus Mariota will step in as the Commanders' No. 1 quarterback.
Dec 7, 2025 4:43 PM EST
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) is questionable to return to his team's Week 14 matchup against the Washington Commanders, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Daniels took a hard fall on his left elbow, the same elbow that caused him to miss three games after dislocating in Week 9. The 24-year-old completed nine of 20 pass attempts for 78 yards and an interception before exiting the game. He also recorded four rush attempts for 16 yards. With Daniels sidelined, veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota has taken over under center for the Commanders. Mariota has seen extended playing time so far in 2025. Entering Week 14, the 32-year-old had completed 63.2% of his pass attempts for 1,359 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions across eight games (six starts) worth of action. While the exact nature of Daniels' injury is unclear, the 3-9 Commanders may choose to be cautious with bringing back their franchise quarterback in Week 14.
Dec 7, 2025 3:00 PM EST
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) will start on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14, according to head coach Dan Quinn. Daniels will be active this weekend for the first time since a gruesome dislocation of his left (non-throwing) elbow in Week 9 in the loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The 24-year-old has missed the team's last three games but will take over starting duties in Minnesota, sending veteran Marcus Mariota back to the bench. Washington got top wideout Terry McLaurin back from a nagging quad injury last week, so Daniels will have a pretty healthy offense around him for his return. Daniels wasn't playing quite like he did in his amazing rookie season this year before hamstring and elbow injuries sidelined him, but he definitely makes the Commanders' offense more dynamic. Fantasy managers may want to temper expectations in Daniels' first game back, though, especially since the Vikings have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to QBs in 2025.
Dec 5, 2025 12:43 PM EST
NFL Insider Tom Pelissero reported that Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) was a full participant in practice on Thursday and is tracking to return in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings. However, head coach Dan Quinn said earlier in the week that he was not cleared for contact, and it's unclear at this point whether that clearance has been granted. Still, full participation is a big step in the right direction. Although nothing is certain about his official return, this is very encouraging news for Daniel's fantasy owners, as we saw in 2024, Daniel provides high upside at the quarterback position, primarily due to his rushing upside. Although the news is encouraging to a young star getting back on the field, fantasy managers should temper expectations given that he hasn't played much in 2025. When he returns, and considering the Commanders are out of playoff contention (3-9), it's likely the coaching staff will want him to limit his rushing so that he doesn't take as many hits. Regardless, Daniels should provide QB1 value once he returns and should be inserted into most lineups. Marcus Mariota has filled in admirably for Daniels in his absence, but if Daniels suits up, Mariota can be dropped to waivers.
Dec 5, 2025 9:32 AM EST
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) practiced in full on Thursday, per Grant Paulsen of 106.7 The Fan. Daniels has been sidelined since Week 9 after suffering a dislocated left elbow, but it appears he may be nearing a return to the field in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings. The 24-year-old has been limited by multiple injuries to just six games this season. However, Daniels remains one of the NFL's premier dual-threat quarterbacks when healthy, as he's thrown for 1,184 yards and eight touchdowns and rushed for 262 yards and two scores. While Washington has not officially announced that Daniels is cleared to play in Week 14, his return to full practices is undoubtedly a positive sign. If he remains sidelined for another week, veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota will make another start for the Commanders on Sunday against the Vikings.
Dec 4, 2025 4:20 PM EST
While the Washington Commanders have not yet cleared quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) for contact, there's hope that he'll be able to suit up for Sunday's road outing with the Minnesota Vikings. Despite suffering a gruesome elbow injury back in Week 9, the LSU product has steadily progressed. Daniels has only been able to practice in a limited capacity since returning to the team, and will likely need to log a full session before being cleared to play. However, it's encouraging that the Commanders haven't ruled him out for this weekend's clash, leaving the door open for a return to action. If the second-year pro fails to be active for another contest, veteran Marcus Mariota will again lead the charge against a floundering Minnesota squad. Mariota has been serviceable in the former's stead, but would still be only a low-end streaming option for fantasy.
Dec 4, 2025 11:15 AM EST
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday's practice, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. Daniels is back at practice after dislocating his left (non-throwing) elbow back in Week 9, but he has yet to be cleared for contact and is up in the air to return on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14. The Commanders plan on waiting until Friday to re-evaluate the 24-year-old second-year signal-caller. There's a chance that Daniels will be able to return in Minnesota, but the Commanders will probably play it extra safe with their franchise QB, and he'll likely need to upgrade to a full practice before the week is over to have a realistic shot of playing. Washington won't be afraid to give Marcus Mariota his seventh start of the year if they are on the fence about Daniels' status.
Dec 3, 2025 5:37 PM EST
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said that quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) will get a lot of reps in practice on Wednesday, but the team will re-evaluate him on Friday after he's had a full week of practice, per John Keim of ESPN. Daniels is getting closer to making a return, but he still hasn't been cleared for contact, and his status for Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings will depend on how he handles the next three days. When the second-year signal-caller suffered a gruesome dislocation of his left (non-throwing) elbow back in Week 9, it seemed like he'd be lost for the season, especially considering the Commanders' record. However, the 24-year-old avoided any broken bones or ligament damage, and he's pushing to return this year. The Commanders will play this one very cautiously, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see Marcus Mariota get one more start this weekend after a strong performance against one of the league's best defenses in a near upset over the Broncos in Week 13.
Dec 3, 2025 12:53 PM EST
Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said on Monday that quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) has not been cleared for contact, and he does not expect to make a final decision on the QB's Week 14 status until Friday, according to Tashan Reed of The Washington Post. Quinn added that Daniels is going through "functional movements" this week as the next step for his return to action following a gruesome dislocation of his left (non-throwing) elbow in Week 9. The second-year signal-caller has a chance to return in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings, but his status still seems very much up in the air, and with the Commanders well out of the playoff picture, it doesn't make sense for the organization to rush their franchise QB back. We'll have a better idea of Daniels' Week 14 status later this week, but we wouldn't be surprised if Marcus Mariota makes another start this weekend.
Dec 1, 2025 4:24 PM EST
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) was ruled out for Week 13 against the Denver Broncos, but he has a chance to return in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. After dislocating his left elbow in Washington's Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Daniels was a limited participant every day in practice this week and will have an opportunity to return after missing just four games. Daniels has expressed the desire to return to action despite the Commanders' 3-8 record and after dealing with knee and hamstring injuries earlier in the year. Marcus Mariota will continue filling in as Washington's starter until Daniels is able to return.
Nov 30, 2025 11:25 AM EST
The Washington Commanders officially ruled out quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) for Sunday night's game against the visiting Denver Broncos in Week 13, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. Daniels has not played since suffering a gruesome dislocation of his left (non-throwing) elbow in the Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The 24-year-old second-year signal-caller returned to practice for the first time this week, but he's not quite ready to make his return after several limited practices. Even though the Commanders are well out of playoff contention, they are optimistic that Daniels can return to play against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14 if he's cleared for contact. For at least another week, veteran backup Marcus Mariota will lead Washington's offense this Sunday night against one of the best defenses in the league in the Broncos.
Nov 28, 2025 1:24 PM EST
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) was listed as limited in the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. Daniels will most likely be officially ruled out for Week 13 against the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football, but there's a chance he'll return in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings if he continues to make progress. The 24-year-old second-year signal-caller has not played since suffering a gruesome dislocated left (non-throwing) elbow in the Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Even though the Commanders have lost six straight games to put them well out of playoff contention, it sounds as though Daniels will return when he's cleared in December. The former second overall pick also missed a few games early in the season with a knee injury. In his six games, Daniels has thrown for 1,184 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Nov 26, 2025 6:23 PM EST
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) has been sidelined since suffering a gruesome dislocated left elbow in his team's Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. However, the 24-year-old was able to avoid surgery, and a return in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings is a "realistic possibility," per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler. Fowler notes that while Daniels has not been officially ruled out for Week 13 against the Denver Broncos, Washington is more likely to go with veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota for one more week. Across six games this season, Daniels has completed 62.5% of his pass attempts for 1,184 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions. He's also been a major threat with his legs, rushing for 262 yards and two touchdowns on 54 attempts. While a Week 14 return for Daniels would obviously be a positive thing for fantasy managers, it might be wise to temper expectations, specifically for his rushing workload. With Washington currently saddled with a 3-8 record, the team will likely be cautious with putting its franchise quarterback at risk.
Nov 26, 2025 11:19 AM EST
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) said he has been throwing, according to John Keim of ESPN. Daniels started throwing the football around last week, but there remains no clear timetable on when he might return. "If I'm healthy and ready to go, I want to be out there," Daniels said when asked about the possibility of returning this year despite the injury risk. The 24-year-old is expected to resume practicing with the team this week (likely in a limited fashion), but he's not expected to play on Sunday Night Football against the Denver Broncos in Week 13. The second-year QB suffered a dislocation of his left (non-throwing) elbow in Week 9 and has been out since. With the Commanders well out of playoff contention, it remains to be seen if Washington will even consider bringing Daniels back this year. Veteran Marcus Mariota has been starting with Daniels sidelined, and he should make another start this weekend in a tough matchup against the Broncos.
Nov 25, 2025 12:15 PM EST
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