Jayden

Daniels

This was Keim’s observation during a practice that was opened to the media, but newly minted offensive coordinator David Blough has already gone oh record saying the team plans to play more from under center and run more play action in 2026. This will make for a major adjustment for Jayden Daniels, who has played 94 percent of his offensive snaps from the shotgun since 2024, per TruMedia. Blough also said the team plans to run no-huddle about 20 percent of the time, which would be a steep drop off from the 61 percent no-huddle rate the team saw under Kliff Kingsbury. This will be an offense to monitor as training camp reports start popping up this summer and we get a better sense of how the Commanders plan to deploy their backfield and utilize their weapons in the passing game. The decision to move under center could also have an impact on Daniels’ rushing volume, which would have a significant impact on his fantasy value, where he currently profiles as a strong top-12 option.

“Love is an explosive play waiting to happen and would unlock multiple layers of the playbook that Washington couldn’t access last season,” Reid said, projecting the Commanders to take the former Notre Dame running back with the seventh pick of the 2026 draft. Washington in 2025 ranked 11th in rush EPA, just below the 49ers, and tenth in rushing success rate, in line with the run-heavy Packers. Love in 2025 had 1,372 yards and 18 touchdowns and had 39 runs of 10 or more yards, trailing only three collegiate backs. Washington was one of the run heaviest teams in the NFL last season, ranking 28th in early down neutral pass rate.

Jayden Daniels, coming off an injury-plagued 2025 season in which he threw eight touchdowns and three interceptions over seven games, will lead Washington into London for one of the NFL’s many international games in 2026. The Commanders will look to get back to their 2024 offensive form after scoring points on just 37 percent of their offensive possessions in 2025, the tenth lowest rate in the league. Daniels last season had a drop back EPA on par with Tyler Shough and Kirk Cousins.

Likely, an unrestricted free agent, could see interest from multiple teams this spring, including the Commanders, who are likely to move on from veteran TE Zach Ertz after his catastrophic knee injury in 2025. “Likely would bring more upside with his catch-and-run ability. A move player in the formation, Likely would also be schemed to create underneath one-on-ones,” Bowen said. In his four seasons with the Ravens, Likely popped off a few times in a run-heavy offense, usually when Mark Andrews was sidelined. Likely since the start of the 2024 season ranks fourth among all tight ends in ESPN’s open score, which measures a player’s ability to separate from defenders. He would be an intriguing fantasy option as an every-down player in Washington.

Kingsbury didn’t have much chance of making it to a third season at the head of Washington’s offense after the team collapsed in 2025 with Jayden Daniels missing much of the regular season with multiple injuries. Pelissero claims Kingsbury, the former Cardinals head coach, “has head coaching interest and otherwise will have multiple OC options.” Washington’s offense in 2025 was somehow 16th in EPA per play despite Daniels’ injuries (and his poor play when healthy). They were ninth in offensive success rate and 12th in yards per play, ahead of postseason teams like the Broncos, Panthers, Eagles, Chargers, Jaguars, and Steelers. The Commanders will likely hire an OC with experience getting the most out of duel-threat quarterbacks like Daniels.

Mariota reportedly “had stitches on his right hand and is also dealing with a quad injury,” following the Commanders’ Saturday game against the Eagles. Quinn adds that the team “would not consider playing” QB Jayden Daniels (elbow) if Mariota cannot play in Week 17 against the Cowboys. Mariota is backed up by QB Josh Johnson, who would presumably start in his stead if he is unable to play.

According to Rapoport, Daniels’ elbow injury was re-evaluated today, and he was not cleared to play. Given this, and the fact that the Commanders will face the Cowboys on a short week in Week 17, the team has decided to shut him down for the season and ride with Marcus Mariota the rest of the way. In the way everything seemed to go right for Daniels in 2024, the exact opposite could be said of his 2025 season. Daniels didn’t get to work much with his no. 1 receiver in training camp due to a contract dispute, and his on-field play took a noticeable step back when healthy. The real story, however, is injuries. Daniels appeared in only seven games for the Commanders this season due to a knee sprain he suffered in Week 2, a hamstring injury he sustained in Week 7, and a dislocated elbow he suffered in Week 9. He was knocked out of Week 14’s game against the Vikings when he attempted to return from his elbow injury, and is now officially out for the season. There was always fear that Daniels’ slender frame would leave him susceptible to injuries at the pro level, and he didn’t beat the allegations this season. Hopefully, a fully healthy offseason, coupled with revamped tools in the passing game, will yield better results for the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Rodriguez was a game-time decision with his groin injury, and the Commanders have decided to not have the tailback go after testing the injury in pre-game. Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Jeremy McNichols will get the touches with Rodriguez unavailable.

There seems to be no real plan for how to handle Daniels in the final weeks of a disastrous season for Washington. Daniels, after aggravating his elbow injury in Week 14 against the Vikings, has been ruled out for Week 15’s game against the Giants. Quinn said Daniels will practice this week for some reason. Marcus Mariota, who has a higher drop back EPA than Daniels this season, will draw another start and becomes a viable streaming play in 12-team leagues.

Daniels did not suffer structural damage to his injured left elbow last week against the Vikings, Quinn added. It appears the listless Commanders are intent on protecting Daniels from further setbacks in a lost season. Mariota, who has a higher drop back EPA than Daniels through Week 14, would profile as a superflex option against the soft Giants defense allowing the league’s fifth highest rate of yards per play this season.