Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has played at a high level during the 2024 NFL season, his first in the league. Early in the Week 7 matchup against the Carolina Panthers, Daniels sustained an injury to his rib.
He went to the blue tent to get tested and was initially labeled as questionable to return before the Commanders decided to shut him down. Marcus Mariota took over from that point on.
The Commanders got a convincing 40-7 win over the Panthers, but not every rival will be as easy as the NFC South squad.
They will face the Chicago Bears on Sunday, hoping to improve to 6-2, but Daniels' availability remains a question mark. If you're a fantasy manager trying to get answers on this situation, this is the place.
Jayden Daniels injury update
Every Commanders quarterback except for Jayden Daniels was at practice on Thursday, per reporter John Keim.
Adam Schefter added that the team plans to give Daniels a chance to return to practice on Friday, the last day they can make a decision on his Sunday availability.
During the first drive of the Panthers game, he went down with the injury. This hurt his chances to boost his numbers and solidify his case as a strong candidate for the Rookie Offensive Player of the Year.
The Commanders have built a solid team around Daniels, but facing the Bears without him could diminish their chances to win the contest by a large margin. If he can't take the field, Mariota will be the starting quarterback fresh off his remarkable performance against Carolina.
What did HC Dan Quinn say about Jayden Daniels' injury?
After Daniels went down, questions arose regarding his health and immediate future with the team. Coach Dan Quinn said that they will be careful with Daniels' progress, as his health is the most important thing.
"We're not going to miss one step of this, all the way through," Quinn said, per team writer Zach Selby. "It's really important to get it right, and we will."
Daniels is playing at a high level and having him on the field is important for this team. That said, they should not rush this process, but wait until everything is fine for him to return.
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