The Washington Commanders' prime-time game against the Denver Broncos came too soon for quarterback Jayden Daniels. And according to one leading NFL insider, it's not guaranteed he'll suit up in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings either.
Daniels has been missing since dislocating his elbow during a gruesome end to Washington's defeat at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks. Debates were heated about whether the Commanders should put their franchise player in harm's way with nothing much to play for other than pride, but the former LSU standout plans to get involved once medically cleared to participate.
That might be a little longer just yet. Daniels was back at practice this week, which represented an encouraging development. He has not yet been given the green light for contact. Based on a report from Adam Schefter of ESPN, it's touch-and-go whether the Commanders will have their leading man under center at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Commanders are unsure about Jayden Daniels' status for Week 14 against the Vikings
Schefter revealed that it's unclear whether Daniels will play against the Vikings at this early stage. Things will become clearer in the coming days, but the Commanders won't hesitate to give it another week if there isn't 100 percent conviction about the healing process.
There was no structural or ligament damage to the elbow. Daniels was favoring it slightly at practice, which is precisely why the Commanders aren't putting too much on his plate at the moment. This is about gradually ramping things up, and Washington's decision makers have the luxury of time without making the playoffs to think about.
Daniels is highly competitive. He's made his intentions about wanting to be out there with his teammates abundantly clear. The Commanders will likely grant his wish when the medical staff is suitably impressed by his progress. Until then, he'll be watching from the sidelines.
Marcus Mariota is a capable understudy. He's mobile, accurate, and knows how to deploy offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury's scheme. While he doesn't bring the same creativity or dynamism as Daniels, the Commanders could do a lot worse for their backup quarterback.
There is no doubt that Daniels will do his best to convince Washington's staff that he is ready to go this week. It's been a frustrating campaign, with several ailments denting his chances of finding any legitimate rhythm. He's eager to make up for some lost time, and the young gunslinger needs reps to generate positivity before his third campaign.
However, coming back in Week 14 is not set in stone by any stretch of the imagination.