The Washington Commanders finally decided to shut Jayden Daniels down for the season. He didn't like it, but the decision-makers believe it's the best option right now.
It's also brought forth an uncomfortable truth that fans may not want to admit.
Marcus Mariota stepped in again for Daniels against the New York Giants, and though he was far from perfect, he got the job done. Now, he'll get three more games to improve his chances of a new deal or perhaps even a starting opportunity elsewhere.
The decision to shut Daniels down for the year, at this point, is ultimately the right one. But it's at least partially for a much more uncomfortable reason.
Commanders are getting enough from Marcus Mariota to shut down Jayden Daniels
At the start of the season, any concerns about a Daniels sophomore slump looked foolish. In his first four appearances, he was rock-solid, throwing seven touchdowns to one interception. But ever since injuring his hamstring against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7, something has been off.
In Daniels' last three contests before he was shut down, he looked increasingly worse each time out. His accuracy was concerning, and his pocket presence was alarmingly unstable. Washington lost those games by an average of 26 points. None were close, even before he left each of them with various ailments.
Mariota, meanwhile, has given the Commanders a chance to compete. In the last three matchups he's started, Washington hasn't lost in regulation. He's made some mistakes, but he's been able to command the offense and move the ball down the field. Daniels hasn't.
Obviously, this does not mean Mariota is a better quarterback than Daniels. Last year's NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year wasn't able to stay healthy for long enough to get into a rhythm this season. That's the primary reason why it was important to attempt to bring him back after his dislocated elbow against the Seattle Seahawks.
But with only three games left, it's now the right call to sit him.
Daniels is Washington's future. He should fully recover over the spring and summer and bounce back with another Pro Bowl-caliber season in 2026. But for the past two months, not only has he been unable to finish a game without getting banged up, but the team has also played better football when Mariota is on the field.
If Daniels had been playing well when healthy, this would have been a much tougher decision. But after victory over the lowly Giants, the move had to be made.
Not only to help protect the face of the franchise, but also because the quarterback who currently gives the Commanders their best shot is Mariota.