Washington Commanders’ quarterback Jayden Daniels returned to practice before the start of Week 13. This development has sparked conversation about the quarterback’s possible return from his latest injury. Daniels has not played since he injured his non-throwing left elbow while bracing for a fall during a November 2nd game against the Seattle Seahawks in Week Eight. Washington is coming off its bye week and is eager to try to end their current six game losing streak against the Denver Broncos.
Daniels is especially eager to return to the field, which is a reflection of his competitive spirit. However, his return isn’t solely up to him. The Commanders’ team doctors are monitoring his progress and want to make sure he’s healthy to return. There are some fans that probably wondering why Daniels should return. While the Commanders aren’t officially eliminated from playoff contention as of this writing, their 3-8 record demands they win their remaining six games and receive a ton of help. For Washington to even come close to that happening, Daniels must be out on the field.
That won’t matter much. After suffering a sprained left knee, an injury to his right hamstring, and a dislocated left elbow, it is impossible to believe that Daniels can return to the dynamic form he displayed during his 2024 rookie season any time soon. Even if he were able to reestablish any degree of that standard of play, there’s nothing to suggest that the Commanders can parlay that standard into success in 2025. The unimaginable number of key players suffering injuries has contributed significantly to Washington’s current struggles. Factor in the team’s monumental struggles on defense, as well as their overall inconsistency, and you have a recipe for another lost season in the District of Columbia.
It’s necessary for Daniels to return to the field and experience competitive gameplay again, as it’s critical for his continued development. Washington has received some good news: wide receiver Terry McLaurin is set to return to the lineup after missing eight games with a quad injury. Wide receiver Noah Brown was also a full participant in practice on Thursday and is also set to return to action as well. It will be the first time since Week Two against the Green Bay Packers that Daniels, McLaurin, Brown and wide receiver Deebo Samuel will all be available for Washington. While it may be too late to salvage the 2025 season, the return of the aforementioned players could reignite the Commanders’ passing game while establishing some sort of offensive consistency.