Jayden Daniels was supposedly healthy enough to go back into the game against the Minnesota Vikings despite taking a hard fall on his injured elbow. Just a few short days later, he was ruled out of the Washington Commanders' trip to the New York Giants in Week 15.
It's unlikely that Daniels' issue has worsened, and he is still practicing in a limited capacity. The situation is getting more bizarre with each passing week, especially since head coach Dan Quinn is providing no clarity on the long-term plan for his franchise player beyond this week.
Fans are becoming increasingly frustrated. Some want Daniels shut down for the season. Others believe he needs the reps to improve. His performance levels have regressed even when healthy, so gaining more invaluable experience, even in a lost season, is desirable.
Commanders fan wondered if Adam Peters was behind Jayden Daniels sitting out in Week 15
There is just no telling for sure whether Daniels will be seen again this season. Quinn has dodged almost every question about the topic with expert skill. But a team insider highlighted another notion on social media that represents a curveball of epic proportions.
JP Finlay from NBC Sports quoted a fan theory that general manager Adam Peters was the one behind Daniels sitting out. The fan also thought Washington's front-office leader might have taken this drastic measure because of his lack of trust in the coaching staff's handling of Daniels' situation. And the insider didn't believe it was that far-fetched.
Reasonable take here. https://t.co/B3WYGeN51a
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 10, 2025
If there is any truth in this, and it just seems like a wild critique, that would be the first legitimate evidence of friction between Peters and Quinn.
Fans or reporters will never know for sure. The Commanders run a tight ship with very few (if any) leaks emerging from within the building. Peters and Quinn developed a close bond last season. They have a strong working relationship, but if the general manager felt that intervening to protect his most significant investment was needed, he wouldn't hesitate.
It's all speculation and hearsay. And it's a sign of the team's passionate supporters' frustration.
Everyone in the building has Daniels' best interests at heart. He's going through some turmoil this season, and the ongoing injury problems remain a frustration. The signal-caller is competitive. He wants to be back among his teammates. But with the Commanders playing for nothing other than pride, some consolidation will no doubt be considered at some stage.
The saga with Daniels' participation from week to week is distracting. It's a mess. One can point to how it's been handled, but the most important thing is where the player and the Commanders go from here.
Because, as fans know, this campaign is a complete failure.