The Washington Commanders are now 1-3 after losing to the Indianapolis Colts. Veteran backup quarterback Marcus Mariota got hurt early, and seventh-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis couldn't keep his team above water.
Now, the Commanders' season hinges on whether star quarterback Jayden Daniels can survive his expected early return from a dislocated elbow.
Daniels made the trip to London and practiced in a limited capacity. He was pushing hard to play, but the Commanders decided against it. However, they hope he can take his place in the lineup for their Week 5 home game against the New York Giants, a must-win scenario.
Commanders are now dependent on Jayden Daniels making a successful return
This brings more urgency to Daniels' recovery.
Head coach Dan Quinn, who looked demoralized after the game, confirmed that Mariota sustained an MCL injury. That could put him on the shelf for a while, and given Kaliakmanis' limitations and inexperience, the Commanders won't be getting very far.
The Commanders need Daniels. If Mariota had stayed healthy, Washington may have won the game, which would have taken the heat off. They looked in control early, but the injury changed everything. And now, they are staring at another losing record with the 3-1 Giants coming to town.
They don't have their starting quarterback, either. But they are finding ways to make it work with Jameis Winston.
Washington no longer has a reliable veteran backup. So the onus is squarely on Daniels to return and stay healthy.
It's a massive risk, but pressure breaks pipes.
And the Commanders are under an enormous amount of that after a third loss in four contests to begin their 2026 exploits.
Jayden Daniels should be back in Week 5, but the risks attached are glaring
This will be music to Daniels' ears, in all honesty.
If it were up to him, he'd have played in London. That's why he made the trip, but the Commanders want a full week of proper practice before the team's confidence increases. That's the challenge facing Daniels this week, and he will be striving to pass the test with flying colors.
Even if Daniels does suit up, it might be worth the Commanders bringing in another veteran signal-caller soon. Nothing too drastic, but someone like Jeff Driskel would suffice. Kaliakmanis flashed promise, but asking a seventh-round pick to provide stability in the line of fire is too much.
And it could hurt his development.
All eyes will be on Daniels this week. The Commanders have no choice but to ramp up his workload and see how the elbow responds. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and this injury-ravaged squad doesn't stand a chance without him.
It's that simple, really.
There will always be risks attached to the elbow. It flared up last season when Daniels came back. And the more it dislocates, the more likely it is to happen again. But it's a risk the player and Washington are willing to take.
Otherwise, he'd have gone to injured reserve or had surgery.
Mariota couldn't be depended upon for long, which is disappointing. The Commanders' hand has now been forced, and panic can lead to some rash decisions.
Because if the Commanders are 1-4 heading into Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers, things could get ugly fast.
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