Rap: Daniels (elbow) back in three weeks or sooner

Frankly, this report comes off as more of a recap than breaking news. The Commanders do not yet know when Daniels will return, though they are optimistic that he will miss fewer than four games. According to Rapoport, the goal is to get him back “as soon as possible” and “as safe as possible.” Backup QB
Marcus Mariota

will start in his stead.

Peters clarified that this is the plan for Daniels right now, adding that he only recently returned to the team after meeting with several experts. That said, when considering that a stint on the IR would require Daniels to miss at least four games, it would be safe to assume that the team is hoping for a speedy recovery that wouldn’t require him to miss more than three games, putting him on a week-to-week timetable to return. Daniels has already been ruled out for Week 3’s game against the Seahawks and could also be a long shot to play in Week 4’s game against the Colts in London. Daniels will likely wear a brace for the remainder of the season in hopes of stabilizing his elbow, which he first dislocated last season in Week 9. Marcus Mariota will draw the start this week and threw for 1,695-10-7 in 11 games last season.

We’re not likely to hear much on the long-term status of Daniels this week — maybe something breaks by Thursday or Friday — but it is very clear he won’t be starting again in the short-term. Gathering a variety of medical opinions rather than relying on the team doctor is, more often than not, a predecessor to some sort of surgery. It would be hasty to say that’s where this is headed, but it wouldn’t be surprising if it wound up that way given how bad the injury looked on the field.

This one was pretty apparent after viewing the replay, but now we know for sure. Today, Daniels suffered the same injury, in the same arm, that ended his 2025 season. Quinn notes that Daniels underwent X-rays post-game, and the imaging shows that he avoided suffering a fracture. While that is good news, the injury overall is extremely concerning. Daniels is set to undergo more tests on Monday, which will help determine his expected recovery timeline. He is expected to miss time, regardless.

Daniels and the Commanders were trying to score a touchdown before halftime when disaster struck on what started as a botched play from the snap. On the snap, Daniels had his foot stepped on and tried to break his fall with his left arm, resulting in a nasty injury to his left elbow that looked eerily similar to last year’s dislocated elbow in Week 9 against the Seahawks. Daniels was playing well before going down, throwing for 96 yards and a touchdown while making one play after another on the ground. He ran seven times for 69 yards while breaking off multiple chunk gains. It’s safe to say Daniels won’t be returning in this game and is likely looking at an extended absence.

It was a rough first outing for Daniels and the Commanders. Washington managed just 65 passing yards through the first three quarters, while Daniels completed 9-of-23 passes. In the fourth quarter, however, Daniels was far more effective, completing 9-of-11 passes for 99 yards and two touchdowns, with his first coming on a 10-yard pass to Stefon Diggs. On the following drive, Daniels would connect with rookie Antonio Williams twice, with the second resulting in a one-yard touchdown pass that Williams scraped off the turf but was ruled a touchdown after review. Needing a two-point conversion to tie the game, the Commanders ran a shovel pass to tight end John Bates that came up well short of the end zone, giving Philly the win after they recovered an onside kick attempt. Daniels was far from sharp in this one, but the Eagles deserve plenty of credit for keeping him in the pocket, forcing him off his spot, and making him uncomfortable. Of the five rush attempts Daniels managed on Sunday, only two came on designed runs. Five rush attempts feel like the floor for Daniels in any given week, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the Commanders were more intentional about limiting designed run calls after last year’s injury-plagued season. Daniels will be a high-end QB1 next week when the Commanders take on the Cowboys in Dallas.

Beat writers for the Commanders were aghast at what they saw during Wednesday’s joint practice, a dominant performance for Baltimore against an overmatched Washington offensive line. This is the worst I’ve ever seen the Commanders’ offense in years,” Jhabvala said. “Inoperable offensive line.” Washington this summer lost standout LT Laremy Tunsil to a tricep injury that will keep him sidelined throughout the regular season. The Commanders on Tuesday signed free agent OT DJ Humphries. If the team’s blocking issues are not adequately addressed in the coming weeks, it could be bad news for Jayden Daniels and the rest of the Commanders’ fantasy-relevant players. Last year Washington ranked 18th in pass blocking win rate and 21st in run blocking win rate.

In addition to Daniels, the Commanders are also expected to play Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs, giving us the first look at the team’s revamped passing game under new offensive coordinator David Blough, with most of its starters on the field. We wouldn’t expect Daniels and company to play more than a series or two, but this will be Daniels’ first game since Week 14 of last season.

Breer adds that third-year Commanders WR Luke McCaffrey has “taken another step.” Perhaps this receiving corps is slightly better than one may have thought a few months ago. Both players are behind WR Terry McLaurin and WR Stefon Diggs, who has “immediately stepped into a leadership role” on his new team, but receiving depth is a plus for QB Jayden Daniels.

One of the bigger storylines out of Commanders camp this offseason has been the switch to a scheme that is expected to put Daniels under center far more often than he did in his first two seasons with Kliff Kingsbury. Daniels has played 94 percent of his snaps from shotgun since 2024, per TruMedia, which is similar to how he also played in college. According to Jhabvala, Daniels has adjusted well to playing more from under center, saying, “the footwork that so often seems to trip up young quarterbacks doesn’t seem to be an issue at all for (Daniels),” while adding that his timing with his pass-catchers has been “really sharp.” Daniels struggled in his second season as a pro. While a multitude of injuries certainly played a role, he struggled at times with his accuracy last season and was more prone to take off and run than he was as a rookie. With several new additions on offense, Daniels could be in line for a big fantasy season and profiles as a high-end QB1.