The Washington Commanders have a huge match-up in Week 8 versus the Chicago Bears. There has been a narrative created by the media between the two teams due to Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels being the top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. CBS even flexed the game to its prime late afternoon slot, making it even more of a big deal.
The story alone makes it a big game. But the Bears are also one of the better teams the Commanders have faced thus far in 2024. That's what makes it an important game.
Jayden Daniels went down in the first quarter with a rib injury in the Commanders' blowout win versus the Carolina Panthers in Week 7. He seemed fine when he came out of the locker room, but was ruled out as Washington was already up 27-0 by half-time.
On top of all this, Daniels' mother posted a positive update soon after.
He's fine #httc
— Mz Jackson (@LovelyMzJackson) October 20, 2024
Dan Quinn confirmed that the No. 2 pick was week-to-week with the rib issue. Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network revealed on Tuesday that the former LSU star's status for Week 8 at Northwest Stadium is "very much in doubt".
#Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, dealing with a rib injury, has his status up in the air for the showdown against Caleb Williams and the #Bears. pic.twitter.com/eJMLcFzbel
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 22, 2024
Why Jayden Daniels should sit out Week 8 versus the Bears
This game is a big one, but it is just one game on the schedule. The Commanders are sitting at 5-2 on the season with more than half the campaign to go before playoffs begin. If Washington still wants to be leading the division when the business end of 2024 arrives, Daniels' health should be preserved.
If Daniels does play, even if he is considered healed from the rib injury, he will be in danger of re-injury. He is a quarterback that runs a lot. The Heisman Trophy winner averaged 10.5 rushes per game. That cannot continue if the signal-caller is not at 100 percent.
Even if Kliff Kingsbury changes up the game plan to make sure Daniels does not run much, that won't be enough to keep him safe. The Bears' defense is elite, especially on the defensive line. Their unit currently has the eighth most sacks per game. They also have former Commanders pass-rusher Montez Sweat, who'll like nothing more than to cripple Washington's renaissance.
The risk is certainly there against the Bears' defense. If he goes down with an even worse injury, the Commanders' playoff chances could plunge.
Washington's franchise quarterback must be protected. If Daniels not playing against the Bears and possibly taking one loss on the season keeps him healthy for the rest of the year, that is what the team should do.
Marcus Mariota is not the same quarterback as Daniels. However, there is a reason Adam Peters, Dan Quinn, and Kingsbury chose him to be the backup. Specifically, his play style is very similar to the rookie superstar.
It was only against the Panthers' lackluster defense, but that doesn't rid Mariota of a good performance once Daniels went down. Things started slowly, but once the veteran signal-caller got in a rhythm, he started putting points on the board. Having a strong run game also helps enormously.
Mariota completed 18-of-23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed 11 times for 34 yards. It would be a substantially tougher match-up against the Bears, but if the Oregon product can at least be serviceable and the defense shows up, it's a winnable game.
Daniels should sit out Week 8 unless he is fully healthy and team doctors determine there is slim to no chance of causing additional harm.