The Washington Commanders were blanked on the scoreboard for the first time since 2019 against the Minnesota Vikings. The big story was an all-too-familiar refrain: Jayden Daniels left the game early with an injury.
After a third-quarter interception, Daniels was hit and fell on his left side, the same side as the elbow he dislocated against the Seattle Seahawks. He did not return, but head coach Dan Quinn said the move was precautionary and that the quarterback would have stayed in the game under different circumstances.
Naturally, the discussion then turned to why Daniels played at all. Because he was healthy enough to play, that's why.
Commanders cannot second-guess themselves about Jayden Daniels' status
Fans can't help but be prisoners of the moment. Now, we're stuck with another week of calls for Quinn's head and lazy Robert Griffin III comparisons. Never mind the fact that once it was clear Daniels was taking too many hits, the Commanders cut their losses and removed him from the field.
As for him starting at all, let's not switch up now. The people wanted him to play. The receipts don't lie.
If Jayden Daniels is healthy…
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) December 5, 2025
Throughout the week, Daniels practiced well and looked ready to go. He would not have been cleared for contact if he weren't. Then, on Washington's opening drive, he was sharp until the Commanders stalled out at the goal line. He should have had a passing touchdown to Deebo Samuel Sr. on fourth down, but the ball was dropped.
Unfortunately, that would be the high-water mark of Washington's afternoon.
The Vikings dominated the Commanders in the trenches from that point forward, and Daniels had to do too much again. The drive he got re-injured on was fated for disaster from the start, as he had a fumble negated by a penalty only a few plays before his interception.
Long story short, it made perfect sense to give Daniels a shot, even though it didn't work out. His job is to play football, and he needs to get himself going, which he won't do by sitting on the bench.
Nobody knew how things would play out beforehand. While he got banged up, at the end of the day, another major setback was averted.
The Commanders managed Daniels exactly how they should have. They should operate the same way this week, too, taking his status day by day depending on how he practices.
It's a new game, a new opportunity to get back to something like his old self. For a team that's lost eight in a row and a quarterback who hasn't looked like himself since early in the season, any progress would be highly advantageous before the offseason arrives.