After two games out with a dislocated elbow, quarterback Jayden Daniels made his long-awaited return for the Washington Commanders in Week 5 against the New York Giants. But it did not go according to plan.
Daniels had been itching to get back involved since another elbow concern against the Dallas Cowboys. He wanted to play in London, but the Commanders took the cautious route. However, after a full week of practice, head coach Dan Quinn feels much more comfortable now.
This was a massive lift to everyone in Washington. Daniels is their franchise player, and they need him to get things back on track. The Giants still boast a formidable defensive front seven despite trading Dexter Lawrence II and losing edge rusher Brian Burns to a torn ACL, but the signal-caller has enjoyed tremendous success against the G-Men throughout his career.
The Commanders were counting on this trend continuing.
Daniels wore an elbow brace, but there was comfort in putting off surgery for now. He desperately wants to help and didn't want to miss another large chunk of the campaign after what happened in 2025. There are risks, but having him on the field is the key to everything.
As it turned out, a massive miscalculation at the end of the game cost the Commanders. They had to settle for a tie, and the finger pointing has already begun.
With that in mind, here are five major observations from Daniels' performance at Northwest Stadium.
Major observations from Commanders QB Jayden Daniels' performance against the Giants
Jayden Daniels' mobility
David Blough said Jayden Daniels was full-go and had no restrictions. That may have been coach-speak, but the proof would come when the quarterback stepped between the white lines and into the line of fire.
From a mobility standpoint, Daniels looked pretty good. He escaped the pocket when needed, looked explosive rushing the football, and protected himself against a stout New York Giants defensive front seven.
This stayed true as the game wore on. Daniels wasn't looking to get out on the move, but his improvisation kept plays alive when pressure came. It was a hard slog in difficult weather, so his efficiency was a relief for the fan base.
THAT. KID.
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 11, 2026
📺 #NYGvsWAS FOX pic.twitter.com/yWfM200bxj
Daniels sees the game well. He might be playing hurt, but that part of his game remains razor-sharp. And even though running isn't ideal with an elbow problem that could flare up again at any moment, it's still a useful tool when the situation dictates.
It was refreshing to see. And the Commanders gave Daniels the freedom needed to do what he believes was best, from down to down.
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