Jayden Daniels (elbow) won’t play vs. Colts

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo already reported that Daniels is expected to play in Week 5 and a full practice to open the week all but confirms his update. With Marcus Mariota also banged up, seventh-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis would have been the next man up. He will back Daniels up as long as the latter doesn’t suffer any setbacks. The Commanders will likely dial back the designed runs for their franchise quarterback, but fantasy managers have to start him as a low-end QB1 as long as he’s on the field.

Washington will be trying to keep their season on the tracks after falling to 1-3 against the Colts while having to go to third-stringer Athan Kaliakmanis. It’s unsurprising that they’re rushing Daniels back. Even if you factor in an elevated chance of re-injury, Daniels probably clears the QB1 line for fantasy managers against the Giants.

The Commanders were forced to go to rookie seventh-rounder Athan Kaliakmanis after Mariota went down in yesterday’s game. Mariota sprained the MCL in the same knee during the preseason, and it would be surprising if Mariota was cleared in time for Week 5’s game against the Giants. If he’s unable to play, Kaliakmanis could make his first career start if Jayden Daniels (elbows) isn’t ready to return. Daniels traveled with the team to London for last week’s game and was limited in all three practices. He seemed close to playing against the Colts, and with the Commanders sitting at 1-3 and their season potentially on the line, it wouldn’t be surprising if he did suit up in a pivotal divisional matchup against the Giants.

Daniels practiced in a limited capacity this week, but will ultimately sit out the Week 4 matchup against the Colts. According to Jones, sources in Washington believe Daniels could return in Week 5 against the Giants if he gets in a full week of practice this week. While Daniels is going to play through the same elbow injury he had last year, offseason surgery hasn’t been ruled out. Marcus Mariota will continue to start under center for the Commanders in Daniels’ absence.

Most of the national reporters have offered real hesitation on the idea that Daniels will play this week, but that does make two practices in a row. We assume we’ll get a better idea on his long-term status late Saturday night or early Sunday morning, before they play in London. Daniels-reliant managers, as always, should have backup plans settled ahead of a breakfast kickoff.

Daniels was limited in practice on Wednesday and was on the practice field again today, presumably for another limited session. He isn’t expected to play this week, but any amount of practice this soon is a good sign. He told reporters he won’t make a final decision on surgery until after the season. He is, however, at least holding off until the offseason. Marcus Mariota will almost certainly start again this week. Daniels will then have a chance to return in Week 5 against the Giants.

It looks like Daniels will log some practice time ahead of the Commanders’ Week 4 London matchup against the Colts, less than two weeks after suffering yet another elbow injury. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said Tuesday that Daniels will likely require surgery on the elbow after the season. That raises questions about whether he can return and play as he usually does in the coming months. For now it looks like Marcus Mariota will get a second straight start for Washington. He’ll be usable in superflex formats against a middling Colts coverage unit.

Schefter added that he doesn’t think Daniels will play this week but that he may play “sooner rather than later.” Dan Quinn said Daniels will practice in “some capacity this week,” but they may just be trying to understand where Daniels is at physically in these practices. This update does not augur particularly well for Daniels’ chances of staying active if the Commanders go into a tailspin or if he reaggravates the injury; it seems like he’s simply trying to play through the injury to help his team if he can.

Quinn also included Chig Okonkwo and LB Frankie Luvu in the group of players who could return to practice this week, depriving us of a little nuance. We wouldn’t go into Week 4 waivers anticipating that Daniels is going to play, but it probably isn’t entirely off the range of outcomes after Sunday’s reporting said he could return in “three weeks or sooner.”

Daniels dislocated his left (non-throwing) elbow in Week 2. He suffered the same injury last year and it functionally ended his season. The good news for Commanders fans and fantasy managers is that he is not undergoing surgery and wasn’t placed on injured reserve. Still, Daniels will miss a few weeks and then runs the risk of re-injuring the elbow after returning. Marcus Mariota will start until Daniels is healthy. Mariota is one of the league’s best backups, so the fantasy outlook for Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin shouldn’t be too much worse while Daniels is out.