The Washington Commanders were the surprise of the league in 2024 in their run to the NFC championship game after finishing as a bottom-three team in the NFL a year prior.
They’re not surprising anyone this year. Washington traded wins and losses to open the first five weeks of the season, but hasn’t won a game since their 27-10 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers on Oct. 5.
Week 11 saw them drop their sixth in a row, this time on international soil. The Commanders fell to the Miami Dolphins16-13 in overtime in the NFL’s first game in Spain at Real Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium.
It’s been a disappointing campaign for a franchise that saw such great heights in 2024. One of the key factors in the team’s regression is the quarterback. Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels has missed multiple games with various injuries, most recently an elbow injury suffered in the team’s Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on “Sunday Night Football.”
Without him in the lineup due to this most recent injury, Washington relied on veteran Marcus Mariota once again this season. The former No. 2 overall pick is 1-4 as a starter this season with his most recent loss coming to the Dolphins in Madrid.
Washington gets the week off for their bye following their transatlantic trip for Week 11. Here’s what we know about Daniels’ return once they’re back in action.
When will Jayden Daniels return?
Daniels did not suit up for the Commanders’ Week 11 international game against Miami, as expected. The team rolled with Mariota as the starter and Josh Johnson as the backup and that may continue even after the bye.
Washington is preparing for Daniels to miss five to six weeks, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, in case the recovery time takes longer than expected. The franchise plans to return him to the starting lineup once he’s cleared by doctors, according to ESPN’s Dan Graziano.
That means he could return as early as Week 13 against the Denver Broncos on “Sunday Night Football,” considering he did not need surgery on the injured elbow.
The team maintained that it would not place Daniels on injured reserve (IR) and instead would evaluate him during the bye week. Washington has lost their last six games in a row, so there’s a chance the team decides to shut him down for the rest of the season, considering they are not in playoff contention.
Commanders QB depth chart
Here’s a look at who the Commanders have at quarterback with Daniels out:
- Jayden Daniels (injured)
- Marcus Mariota
- Josh Johnson
- Sam Hartman (practice squad)
Commanders 2025 schedule
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When will Jayden Daniels return? Latest updates for Commanders QB
