Jayden Daniels is once again the talk of the town. And once again, it's centered around the constant injury problems that have blighted his second season with the Washington Commanders.
Debates have erupted about whether Daniels should be shut down for the season again after he left the game early in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings. The signal-caller took a hard fall when he was chasing down an interception, immediately favoring the arm that sustained a dislocated elbow. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed he , but he chose to err on the side of caution despite the score being 14-0.
Quinn acknowledged during his Monday media availability that Daniels was a little sore, but he hasn't been ruled out entirely for their trip to the New York Giants. However, there is a growing belief outside the franchise that it could do more harm than good.
Adam Schefter believes the Commanders should shut Jayden Daniels down for the year
Adam Schefter of ESPN echoed this sentiment during his weekly appearance on the Pat McAfee Show. The respected insider thinks the Commanders should take Daniels out of the firing line, given how things have unfolded this season. He's not alone.
"To me, it's an easy decision. We appreciate how much you want to play, but we're going to sit you down. We're out of the playoffs. Start gearing up for a great season in 2026. But right now, this season has gotten away from the Commanders. What are we doing? Why are we putting him out there? I know football players play, I got it. To me, a guy that's taken so much hits, had some injury issues, I'm not letting him play. But that's me, it's not my team."Adam Schefter via Pat McAfee Show
"Jayden Daniels hurt the same elbow yesterday and the Commanders should shut him down for the rest of the season..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) December 8, 2025
I respect that he still wants to play and we'll see what the Commanders end up doing"@AdamSchefter #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/cZ1HiC0ozF
It's easy to make these assumptions from the outside looking in. But anyone who's seen Daniels play this year, even when healthy, can see how much he is struggling to find his groove. That only comes through reps in a competitive setting, and every player around the league is playing hurt at this time of year.
If Daniels is healthy, he will play. The former LSU phenom needs the reps. He needs to read pre-snap defensive alignments better. He needs to gain some confidence before the campaign concludes. He needs to make tweaks to his playing style. The notion of sitting him out isn't without merit, of course, but it still doesn't seem likely even with this latest stumbling block.
The Commanders will take every possible precaution with Daniels, as they have all season. But all signs point to the No. 2 pick in 2024 resuming his place under center at MetLife Stadium if the medical staff is satisfied.
Some might not like this outcome, but it is what it is.