Commanders Shut Down Jayden Daniels, Season Ends in Disappointment
The Washington Commanders’ hopes for a late-season turnaround have been dashed with the decision to sideline star quarterback Jayden Daniels for the remainder of the 2025 NFL season. After re-aggravating an elbow injury, the team will turn to veteran Marcus Mariota to finish out the year, according to CBS Sports NFL insider Jonathan Jones.
Washington’s medical staff re-evaluated Daniels today,but ultimately steadfast he lacked the clearance to return to play,NFL Media reports. A return in Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles was the initial target, but with that now off the table, the team opted to prioritize long-term health over a quick return on a short week leading into a matchup against the Dallas Cowboys.
The decision comes less than a month after Commanders coach Dan Quinn expressed a desire to get Daniels back on the field as soon as he was healthy, emphasizing the importance of development even outside of playoff contention. “I think it’s crucial as Jayden’s… learning to play this position at the highest level competitively, also doing it safely, and those are reps, you know, that you develop as well,” Quinn stated. “It’s a skill,just like throwing and processing.And so, all those things are critically important.”
However,the 4-10 commanders have been without their starting quarterback for a significant portion of the season. Daniels initially battled knee and hamstring injuries before dislocating his left elbow during the Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He briefly returned for the Week 14 game against the Minnesota Vikings, but unfortunately sustained another injury to the same elbow while attempting to make a tackle following an interception.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft had taken the league by storm as a rookie, throwing for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns, and nine interceptions, while also contributing 891 rushing yards and six touchdowns. His performance propelled Washington from a 4-13 record to 12-5, culminating in a trip to the NFC Championship game. Daniels’ 37 total touchdowns and 5,416 total yards (including playoffs) set a new NFL record for a rookie.
This season, however, has been a stark contrast. daniels struggled in his seven starts, posting a 1-6 record with 1,262 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions.
the 2025 season has been an overall disappointment for Washington. In addition to Daniels’ injury woes, star wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who signed a three-year, $96 million contract extension after a training camp holdout, missed half the season with a quad injury.The defense has also been plagued by injuries, with key players marshon Lattimore, Trey Amos, dorance Armstrong, and deatrich Wise Jr. all currently on injured reserve. This has resulted in a defense that is statistically ranked as the second-worst in the NFL. While some regression from the team’s surprising 2024 success was anticipated, the extent of the decline has been far greater than expected.
why did this happen? The Washington Commanders’ season ended prematurely for quarterback Jayden Daniels due to a re-aggravated elbow injury sustained during a Week 14 game against the Minnesota Vikings. He initially injured the elbow in Week 9 against the seattle Seahawks. Who is involved? Key figures include Jayden Daniels, Commanders coach Dan Quinn, veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota, and several injured defensive players like Marshon Lattimore.What is the outcome? Daniels is sidelined for the remainder
