The Washington Commanders plan to have quarterback Jayden Daniels practice a full week before returning to the starting lineup in Week 5 against the New York Giants. But that is just the first part of the equation.
How the Commanders insulate Daniels is far more complex.
Daniels has missed the last two games with a dislocated elbow. It's an ongoing issue dating back to last season, but the signal-caller is willing to wear a brace and tough it out for his team.
Commanders must insulate Jayden Daniels once he returns to the lineup
With the Commanders sitting at 1-3 after their disappointing loss to the Indianapolis Colts, head coach Dan Quinn needs his franchise player under center.
The Commanders won't go far without Daniels this season. With veteran backup Marcus Mariota out with a sprained MCL, the pressure on Washington's QB1 to deliver has only increased.
But if Daniels gets the green light, he cannot be asked to put on the Superman cape and do it all himself.
He needs protection, both from his offensive line and from the scheme being implemented against a powerful Giants defensive front.
Daniels can't improvise too much. Everything has to be in structure, on time, and the signal-caller must get the football out quickly.
The G-Men may have lost Pro Bowl edge rusher Brian Burns to a torn ACL, but they still have Abdul Carter, Arvell Reese, and Kayvon Thibodeaux who can wreak havoc.
Jayden Daniels must do his part to protect himself upon Commanders return
And at 3-1, the Giants will see this as the perfect chance to all but end Washington's postseason hopes.
The Commanders have to be careful. Daniels will play through the pain, and all parties have agreed to give it another shot. But he cannot be forced into doing too much, so it'll take a collective effort to minimize complications when he gets back into the groove.
Daniels should know what's at stake. Everyone else should, too.
The offensive line needs to step up, and right guard Sam Cosmi's return will help. Washington's rushing attack needs to pick up the slack, and Blough needs to scheme around his quarterback's ailment rather than keeping things as they are right now.
Easier said than done, but not impossible.
Blough is getting a crash course in what it takes to be a successful NFL offensive coordinator. He's already had three quarterbacks in four games. He was without wide receiver Terry McLaurin last weekend, and tight end Chig Okonkwo missed two games before returning in London.
But adaptability is key to thriving as Washington's play-caller.
Daniels must also do his part. He cannot play with reckless abandon. Quick thinking to decipher the risk versus reward in every situation is imperative. Making smart decisions and living to fight another day is also crucial.
That won't remove the risk completely, but it might reduce it.
It's a must-win game for the Commanders at Northwest Stadium. Another defeat would be crippling, piling even more pressure on Quinn. Daniels' return gives everyone a lift, but it doesn't guarantee anything if the right protection plans aren't put in place.
No stone should be left unturned. Because there is just no telling how bad things could get if Daniels suffers another elbow issue upon his return.
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