The Washington Commanders lost more than just a football game when starting quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a gruesome dislocated left elbow during a defeat against the Seattle Seahawks back on Nov. 2.
Washington has since entered its Week 12 bye at 3-8. For a piece published on Wednesday morning, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler hinted that those running the Commanders could make a significant call about Daniels’ short-term future before the club begins preparing for its home game versus the Denver Broncos on Nov. 30. The 9-2 Broncos will also be rested for that matchup coming off their bye.
Commanders will have “big-picture talks” about future of Jayden Daniels
“Sources have maintained that while Daniels could return as quickly as three weeks from the occurrence of the injury (so, Week 13 vs. Denver), the team has loosely braced for a five-to-six-week absence just in case,” Fowler explained. “That tells me that shutting him down remains a possibility, based on his durability this season (three separate injuries) and the team’s current standing. Big-picture talks about how to proceed will play out over the coming days and provide clarity one way or the other.”
Specifically, Daniels dealt with a sprained left knee and a right hamstring injury earlier this fall. Meanwhile, backup Marcus Mariota went 1-4 across his first five starts for Washington this season.
As of Wednesday morning, the ESPN Football Power Index gave the Commanders a 0.0 percent chance to make the playoffs in January. Nevertheless, NFL insider Dan Graziano noted in the previously mentioned ESPN article that “the plan in Washington is still that Daniels will return to the starting lineup once doctors clear him from his elbow injury.” Graziano also suggested that the plan could change.
What is Jayden Daniels’ mindset regarding rest of season?
“…This bye week offers a chance to reset and make some longer-lens decisions without having to prepare for a game,” Graziano added about the Commanders. “Daniels will lobby to get back on the field as soon as he can, and the fact that the injury he’s dealing with right now isn’t to his legs or his throwing arm certainly offers grounds for encouragement.”
That said, it sounds like Washington could choose to end Daniels’ season if he isn’t able to play against Denver on the final Sunday of November.
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