The Washington Commanders are having, or will have, difficult conversations during their bye week. And the status of quarterback Jayden Daniels remains a source of fierce debate among the fan base.
Daniels has appeared just six times this season due to multiple injuries. First, it was a knee sprain. Then, it was a low-grade hamstring strain and a gruesome dislocated elbow that could have been a lot worse.
The former LSU standout didn't go to injured reserve, putting him in play to return at some stage after the bye week. When that'll be is anyone's guess, but one respected NFL insider stated that it's a case of when, not if, Daniels makes his triumphant return in 2025.
NFL insider believes it's when, not if, Jayden Daniels returns in 2025
Dan Graziano of ESPN stated that the debate over whether Daniels should be shut down isn't happening in the building. When he gets the all-clear to participate, the Commanders plan to get him back in the lineup, regardless of how things are going.
"As for [Jayden] Daniels, the Commanders have a bye this week and will examine everything. They've lost six games in a row to drop to 3-8 in what looked like a promising season, and there has been external debate about whether it makes sense to bring back Daniels at all this season. From what I've been told, the plan in Washington is still that Daniels will return to the starting lineup once doctors clear him from his elbow injury."Dan Graziano
Nothing has been confirmed, of course. But any notion that the Commanders are going to shut Daniels down if they keep losing seems far-fetched. And in all honesty, fans shouldn't have expected any other outcome.
This is the NFL, one of the most violent sports anywhere in the world. Anyone can get hurt at any time. That's just the way it is, and everyone accepts it.
Daniels has suffered more injuries than most this season, but that doesn't mean the Commanders should be scared in their approach. And the dynamic signal-caller has a competitive spirit that makes it difficult to rein him in.
If it's a token gesture for the final game, there's little point. But the prognosis suggests that Daniels will be back a lot sooner, and with the need to salvage some semblance of respectability from the campaign, the Commanders need their franchise player under center.
Some fans won't like it. But it's the likeliest course of action right now. If Daniels makes a satisfactory recovery during his rehabilitation process, it'll be all systems go.