Jayden Daniels just made a decision that’s fueling frustration in Washington

Jayden Daniels' second season went horribly for a multitude of reasons. The Washington Commanders quarterback couldn't stay healthy. His on-field production wasn't anywhere near his rookie standard. And with the team going through the motions down the stretch, those in power opted to shut him down to prevent any additional damage.

Daniels was expected to rest and get healthy this offseason in pursuit of hitting the ground running in 2026. There is increased pressure on the Commanders following their split with both coordinators. But for this ambitious project to get back on track, the No. 2 overall selection in 2024 needs to be fit and firing on all cylinders.

Therefore, it was no surprise to see, at best, a mixed reaction to the blockbuster announcement of Daniels' confirmed participation in the Fanatics Flag Football Classic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 21.

Jayden Daniels will participate in Fanatics Flag Football Classic, drawing the ire of Commanders fans

Daniels will captain one team, with Tom Brady on the other side. Getting the chance to compete against the seven-time Super Bowl winner was too tempting to ignore, and the money was probably even more difficult to turn down. Even so, some sections of the fan base were completely perplexed by the Commanders' decision to sanction this.

Flag football is not real football. The physicality is non-existent in comparison. That doesn't mean there is a complete minimization of any injury risk. And after hamstring, knee, and elbow complications throughout the 2025 campaign, fans have every right to feel a sense of frustration and trepidation.

Fanatics are organizing the event in conjunction with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Commanders' majority owner Josh Harris is good friends with Fanatics supremo Michael Rubin, and he wants to build the Washington brand worldwide. Daniels will help with that, but this is the last thing fans wanted to see after what unfolded in 2025.

It'll probably be nothing. Daniels is a team-first guy, and if he felt there was any slight chance this could impact his ability to make a lasting contribution when preparations for the new campaign gather pace, he'd have said no. And there needs to be a sense of trust attached.

If Daniels had stayed healthy all season and continued his rapid ascent to superstardom, nobody would have batted an eyelid about this news. That wasn't the case, and one could forgive fans for reacting irrationally.

Hopefully, everything will go according to plan, and Daniels can return from the Middle East with nothing more than tales to tell. Anything less, and the Commanders have got a massive problem.