Everyone's had an opinion as to when, or if, Jayden Daniels returns for the Washington Commanders this season. But if the dynamic quarterback has any say in the matter, it will be sooner rather than later.
Some fans don't want to risk their franchise player. Others want to salvage something from a lost season. The Commanders' approach to this situation lies somewhere in the middle, and a player with Daniels' competitive edge isn't going to take kindly to being sat down when he can be out there helping his teammates.
Daniels has been making all the right noises on social media. Revelations to friend Brandon Aiyuk and a cryptic social media post suggested he would make progress in the near future. Adam Schefter from ESPN confirmed as much, but the respected insider erred on the side of caution regarding his potential involvement in Week 13 against the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football.
Commanders are unlikely to risk Jayden Daniels in Week 13 against the Broncos
Schefter confirmed via sources that the Commanders plan to get Daniels back on the practice field this week for the first time since he sustained a dislocated elbow. However, the former LSU phenom is a long shot to play on prime time this weekend.
Jayden Daniels will return to practice this week, but it considered “unlikely” that he plays Sunday night vs. the Broncos.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 24, 2025
Nicki Jhabvala from The Athletic provided some additional context. The team insider confirmed Schefter's report about Daniels' practice participation. She also revealed there is no set plan for his game status, indicating the Commanders will see how he fares after ramping up his rehabilitation.
Daniels will be pushing hard to convince the coaching staff he can make a lasting contribution. But throwing him against the Broncos' vaunted defensive front after an extended spell on the shelf has the scope to do far more harm than good.
If Daniels has to wait another week, that's fine. It's not like the Commanders are going anywhere fast this season, so there aren't high stakes attached to any of Washington's remaining contests. Still, this development suggests he will return this season, despite pleas from some fans and experts.
And this was the only realistic outcome.
All eyes will be on Daniels in the coming days. While he probably won't be risked against the Broncos, there is now a good chance he'll feature in Week 14 at the Minnesota Vikings. And reading between the lines, that also appears to be a more winnable game.
Nothing has been the same for Washington this season. Daniels' injury issues are a big reason why, but all signs are trending up after an extended period of rest over the bye week.