Washington Commanders fans should know soon what the recovery timeline looks like for quarterback Jayden Daniels after he suffered another dislocated elbow in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys. But wide receiver Terry McLaurin may have spilled the tea beforehand.
During an interview with reporters, McLaurin said that everyone is now rallying around veteran back Marcus Mariota, which is pretty easy to do. However, the Ohio State product also revealed that everyone knows Daniels will be back, which raised a few eyebrows.
That might be the feeling in Washington's locker room. Whether it becomes reality or not is another matter.
Terry McLaurin expects Jayden Daniels back, but Commanders still haven't said when
This is the second time Daniels has dislocated his left elbow in a matter of months. It's not his throwing arm, which is something. But until the information becomes public — potentially today (Friday) during head coach Dan Quinn's media availability — it's all a guessing game.
McLaurin may simply have been speaking in general terms. Of course Daniels is going to play for Washington again. He's still young, and he remains the Commanders' franchise player. But this is a precarious situation.
The eyes of @marshallkramsky say plenty here. https://t.co/Jv3EAO3QSb
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) September 24, 2026
Everyone has an opinion, and they are varied.
Some believe Daniels should play through the pain. Others think a spell on short-term injured reserve is the best path. Some are even considering surgery, which would rule him out for the entire campaign.
There is no definitive plan right now. But based on McLaurin's comments, those within the franchise are expecting Daniels to return sooner rather than later.
And nobody should be surprised.
Commanders fans may have read too much into Terry McLaurin's comments
Daniels is the ultimate competitor. Missing so much time last season stung, and the signal-caller doesn't want it to happen again. That leaves some optimism, and the Commanders will give him every chance to feature again quickly if the specialists' advice gives them that leeway.
The Arizona State product will have to wear a brace in this scenario. It will restrict his arm mobility, and the Commanders will have to get the football out of his hands quickly. David Blough cannot risk him running the football much either, which takes away a massive part of his game.
Still, having him on the field is better than Daniels sitting on the sidelines for a long stretch.
After all, the Commanders are not going to get very far without Daniels this season, no matter how much faith there is in Mariota.
Perhaps people are reading a little too much into McLaurin's comments. Everyone desperately wants Daniels back under center, especially considering how good he looked in Dallas before his latest misfortune. But the more dislocations happen, the more likely they are to happen again.
And we all know how Daniels' return went last season when he arguably came back too soon against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Commanders are under pressure at 0-2, with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks up next. But that should not impact their decision-making process, where Daniels' recovery plan is concerned.
But if McLaurin's comments meant anything, there is a glimmer of hope amid the almost constant doom and gloom right now.
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