Commanders To Explore QB Addition
With Jayden Daniels out of the lineup, Marcus Mariota handled starting duties for the Commanders on Saturday. He was unable to finish the game, however, meaning a short-term QB addition could be coming. 
Mariota cleared concussion protocol upon exiting Washington’s Week 16 loss to Philadelphia. The veteran also suffered a laceration on his throwing hand, however. That puts Mariota’s availability for the final two weeks of the season in question. To little surprise, then, head coach Dan Quinn said (via JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington) the team will look into a quarterback addition.
Daniels has been shut down for the remainder of the year, and Quinn confirmed he will not play regardless of the Commanders’ situation under center. As a result, attention will turn to Mariota’s ability to heal in time for Week 17. Washington will host Dallas on Christmas Day in a game featuring two teams already eliminated from playoff contention.
Josh Johnson took over QB duties once Mariota went down. The 39-year-old has thus made 48 regular season appearances in the NFL as part of his incredibly nomadic football career. That figure could increase depending on how the next few days play out.
Mariota, 32, remained in the nation’s capital this past offseason by signing another one-year pact. He is a pending free agent as a result, so his availability for the closing stages of the campaign will be key in determining his value. It remains to be seen if Mariota will be able to add further to his list of 2025 appearances with Daniels staying on the sidelines. Johnson could make his 10th career start, but in that case Washington will look to bring in depth for the end of the season.
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels Will Not Return In 2025
With the Commanders out of playoff contention, they will rely on their backup quarterback to close out the season. Jayden Daniels has been shut down, as first reported by Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. 
Head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters informed Daniels of the decision this afternoon, The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala adds. Backup Marcus Mariota was also made aware of the situation. He will be tasked with handling QB1 duties for Washington’s final three games.
Of course, Mariota has already made seven starts in 2025. An elbow dislocation left Daniels sidelined for an extended period earlier in the season, and upon returning to action he aggravated it. Last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year has yet to be cleared for Week 16, and Rapoport notes he likely would have been ruled out for that contest anyway. Instead of pushing to return for one or both of the Commanders’ games past that point, Daniels will turn his attention to 2026.
Washington will not move Daniels to injured reserve, Quinn added (via Jhabvala). That decision will allow the 24-year-old to continue practicing (when possible) even though it is known he will not play again in 2025. After a stellar debut campaign, Daniels and the Commanders’ offense – a unit which has dealt with various injuries all year – was unable to meet expectations regarding his follow-up season.
Washington sits at 4-10, meaning the team’s spot in the draft order will be something to monitor over the final three weeks. For a team which reached the NFC title game last season, that marks a major regression. Nevertheless, few observers will be surprised by the decision to shut Daniels down for the final stages of the campaign given the Commanders’ situation.
Mariota played on a one-year deal in 2024. He remained in the nation’s capital on a slightly more lucrative pact for this season, but the 32-year-old is a pending free agent. Today’s news ensures Mariota will have another three chances to audition and in doing so attempt to boost his market value.
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels To Miss Week 15; Marcus Mariota Will Start
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels aggravated a left elbow injury in a loss to the Vikings last Sunday and will miss Week 15, head coach Dan Quinn announced (via Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic). Backup Marcus Mariota will start on Sunday against the Giants.
Daniels dislocated his elbow in a loss to the Seahawks on Nov. 2. The injury kept the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year out for three games. While Daniels returned in Week 14, he didn’t make it through the entire afternoon. The Commanders removed Daniels in the third quarter after Vikings cornerback Isaiah Rodgers knocked him down blocking on an interception return.
Although Daniels landed on his elbow last week, he avoided any structural damage. Nevertheless, Commanders doctors advised sitting him against the Giants. At 3-10, it may make sense for the Commanders to shut Daniels down for the season, but that isn’t the plan right now.
“As far as what decisions are ahead, we havent gone down that road,” Quinn said (via JP Finlay of NBC4 Sports). “He’s working really hard to get back with the guys.”
After going second in the draft last year, Daniels started in every Commanders game during a resurgent season for the franchise. Daniels starred during a 12-5 regular season and helped the Commanders advance to the NFC championship game, which they lost to the Eagles.
Expectations were that Daniels and the Commanders would build on last season’s success in 2025. However, several key injuries have played a role in torpedoing their chances. Daniels has already missed six games as a result of knee, hamstring, and elbow ailments.
Losers of eight in a row, the Commanders will turn back to Mariota for at least another week. Mariota, also a former second overall pick, re-signed with Washington last offseason on a one-year, $8MM deal. The 32-year-old has completed 62.9% of throws with nine touchdowns, seven interceptions, 7.2 yards per attempt, and an 84.8 passer rating in nine games (six starts). As a competent backup, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Commanders re-sign Mariota again in the next few months, especially considering Daniels’ injury woes this year.
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels To Return In Week 14
Jayden Daniels has continued to make progress in his recovery from a dislocated left elbow. Despite the Commanders finding themselves out of playoff contention, their starting quarterback will return to action this week. 
Daniels has been able to practice this week, logging a limited session on Wednesday and a full one yesterday. The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year was recently cleared for full contact, so it comes as no surprise he will be in place against the Vikings on Sunday. This will mark Daniels’ first game action since Week 9.
Questions were raised in the wake of that blowout loss about why head coach Dan Quinn kept Daniels and other starters on the field as long as he did. Since then, the Commanders have continued what is now a seven-game losing streak. Marcus Mariota has generally played well as a fill-in QB starter, but Daniels’ return will certainly be welcomed by all involved.
Washington’s offense has been beset by injuries through much of the 2025 campaign. Ending things on a high note would mark a positive for a team which has fallen well short of its performance from last year. Daniels will look to remain on the field for the closing weeks of the campaign and in doing so resume his strong connection with wideout Terry McLaurin. The latter returned to action during Monday night’s overtime loss to the Broncos, posting 96 yards and one touchdown along the way. Finishing the year with Daniels under center will help McLaurin’s chances of maintaining that production.
Daniels was never placed on injured reserve, but discussions did take place between team and player about shutting him down for the remainder of the campaign. Nevertheless, the 24-year-old is set to return to action for a Washington team which currently sits at 3-9 on the year.
In other injury news, Quinn said (via Tashan Reed of the Washington Post) that receiver Noah Brown and linebacker Bobby Wagner are trending toward playing this week as well. Both players have missed practice time in recent days, but their availability will be key. Brown remains on IR at this point, so having him in the lineup for Sunday will require an activation in his case either today or tomorrow.
Commanders WR Terry McLaurin To Return In Week 13; Latest On QB Jayden Daniels
NOVEMBER 30: Both Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network (video link) and ESPN’s Adam Schefter note that Daniels has not been cleared for contact yet and is officially out for Week 13. While Daniels could suit up in Week 14 and has expressed his desire to do so (per Schefter), it remains unclear 1) whether he will be medically cleared; and 2) if the team will believe it is worth the risk to put him back on the field for the stretch run of a lost season.
NOVEMBER 28: The Commanders are not in position to contend for a playoff spot in 2025, but they could be much closer to full strength on offense down the stretch. Receiver Terry McLaurin is in line to make his return on Sunday. 
“I plan to play as much as I can and as much as they’ll allow me to,” McLaurin said (via ESPN’s John Keim). “It’s really encouraging to hear from my teammates and coaches that they don’t feel like I’ve missed a step. I just have a confidence about myself.”
McLaurin was available for the first three games of the season before suffering a quad injury. His next game action came in Week 8, and he aggravated the issue. That has resulted in by far the most missed time in the seven-year veteran’s career while dealing a blow to Washington’s offense. The Commanders sit at 3-8 on the year ahead of a primetime matchup with the Broncos.
A return to the postseason in 2025 is not in store as a result, but Washington’s outlook for the coming weeks would receive a boost with McLaurin back in the fold. The two-time Pro Bowler topped 1,000 yards every year from 2020-24, something which helped land him a $29MM-per-year extension in August. Expectations for the McLaurin-Jayden Daniels connection will remain high for the foreseeable future, and that duo could be back on the field together shortly.
Daniels is set to miss Week 13, but his recovery from an elbow injury is ongoing. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year has returned to practice, setting up a potential return for next week. The possibility of shutting Daniels down for the remainder of the season has been raised, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler confirms team and player have engaged in “big-picture conversations” about returning this late in a lost season. For now, though, a return as early as Week 14 can be expected.
Both Daniels and receiver Noah Brown – who was designated for return from IR on Monday – were full participants in yesterday’s practice. As such, they could soon rejoin McLaurin in game action, something which would give the Commanders a rare instance of offensive availability in 2025.
Commanders Open Noah Brown’s Practice Window; Latest On Jayden Daniels
The Commanders remain shorthanded on offense but at least one member of the unit could return this week. Receiver Noah Brown has returned to practice, per a team announcement. 
As a result, Brown’s 21-day activation window has been opened. He can be moved from injured reserve to the active roster at any point during that time. The ninth-year receiver has been limited to just two games in 2025 and has been on IR since mid-October.
A groin injury has left Brown unavailable for much of the current campaign, his second as a member of the Commanders. The former Cowboys seventh-rounder was among the players who followed Dan Quinn from Dallas to Washington last offseason, a move which allowed him to continue operating as a complementary pass-catching presence. Brown totaled 453 yards in 11 games during his first season in the nation’s capital.
A similar showing in 2025 would have come as little surprise, even with the Commanders adding a new receiver starter in the form of Deebo Samuel. Instead, Brown has been sidelined most of the year, making only three scoreless catches to date. The 29-year-old is a pending free agent, so any production down the stretch would be key in his case.
Coming off their bye week, the Commanders are 3-8 on the year. After a surprise run to the NFC title game in 2024, things have regressed to a large extent for Washington. Attention down the stretch will turn in large part to the health of quarterback Jayden Daniels. Last year’s Offensive Rookie of the Year is still dealing with the elbow injury he suffered late in the team’s blowout loss to the Seahawks.
Daniels’ non-throwing elbow was injured at that point, leading to Marcus Mariota taking over starting duties. The veteran is in line to make at least one more start for Washington. Quinn said (via The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala) Daniels is set to return to practice this week, but he noted he has not yet been cleared for contact. As a result, Mariota can be expected to handle QB1 duties in Week 13 against the Broncos.
Uncertainty has loomed over Daniels’ recovery timeline. Based on Quinn’s update, though, a return with some time to spare in the season will be a possibility. By the time Washington’s starting quarterback is in play to suit up, a better health situation at the WR spot could also be in store.
Commanders Could Shut Down QB Jayden Daniels For Season
Ten months ago, the Commanders were celebrating an upset win over the Lions in the Divisional Round of the playoffs and preparing to face the Eagles for a chance at a Super Bowl berth all on the arm and legs of a rookie quarterback. Fast forward to today, and Washington’s season has gone anything but according to plan. As second-year passer Jayden Daniels continues to work his way back from his third injury of the season, the surprising position the team finds themselves in could dictate the grounds for his return.
A week ago, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN passed on rumors that the Commanders were preparing for a potential five- to six-week absence for Daniels, despite other reports estimating a mere three weeks of recovery. The potential for a longer than expected recovery combined with a loss to the Dolphins in Madrid had Fowler speculating about a situation in which Daniels doesn’t play again this year.
A week later, that loss to Miami has actualized, and Washington, as a result, now faces a week of reflection and decision-making. Fellow ESPN reporter Dan Graziano noted today that the Commanders will take this Week 12 bye week to “examine everything” and acknowledged that “external debates” have taken place concerning the reasonableness of Daniels not returning this year, but ultimately, he asserted that he’s been told “the plan in Washington is still that Daniels will return to the starting lineup once doctors clear him from his elbow injury.”
While Fowler didn’t dispel the notion of that being the Commanders’ plan, he maintained that his sources have Daniels possibly being back for Week 13, though “the team has loosely braced for an absence of five to six weeks, just in case.” No teams have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs yet, but if this turns into a six-week absence and the team’s six-game losing streak continues, Washington could find itself well out of playoff contention with three games left on the schedule against division-rivals who could be playing for postseason positioning.
If the Commanders are sitting at 3-11 with games left against the Eagles, Cowboys, and Eagles, again, sending Daniels out with nothing on the line feels borderline irresponsible. Considering that Daniels has sustained three different injuries this year, testing his durability with nothing to play for could obviously do more harm than good. Graziano, though, points out that Daniels is likely advocating to get back on the field and, because this latest injury was not related to his legs or his throwing arm, the team may not be as cautious with their approach to his return.
They’ll have the rest of the week to consider all of this before they have to start game-planning for a Week 13 game against the Broncos. If Daniels is good to for the matchup with Denver, the chances of reinjury may be a bit higher against a defense that has a 15-sack lead on the second-best sack-getting team in the NFL.
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels Will Not Require Surgery; 2025 Return Possible
The past few days have seen Jayden Daniels consult with a number of specialists about his dislocated elbow. The worst-case scenario has been avoided. 
Daniels’ left (non-throwing) elbow was not injured as much as originally thought, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. No ligament damage was found upon further testing. As a result, surgery will not be required in this case. Rapoport adds Daniels is not heading to injured reserve at least for the time being.
Further assessments will take place during Washington’s bye week. The team has two games (at home against the Lions and on the road against the Dolphins) before that point. Backup Marcus Mariota will handle QB1 duties for at least those two contests. Part of how the Commanders proceed with Daniels past that point will no doubt be influenced by their record.
Washington sits at 3-6 on the year thanks to a four-game losing streak. A return to the postseason is far from certain as a result, and that will especially be true if the team drops even one of its two remaining games before the bye. If the season is essentially over by that point, there would be little upside to bringing Daniels back into the fold (even if that were possible). For now, attention will turn to Washington’s ability to stay afloat on offense without Daniels or top wideout Terry McLaurin in place for the time being.
Daniels played every game during the 2024 campaign, one in which he took home Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. This season has played out much differently on the health front, with last year’s No. 2 pick already missing time prior to his elbow dislocation. That ailment – suffered late in a blowout game – will hinder the Commanders’ chances of reaching the playoffs, let alone repeating 2024’s surprise run to the NFC title game.
Mariota has made three starts and five appearances this season in place of Daniels. Those figures will continue to rise as the 32-year-old guides Washington’s offense for the time being (potentially through the rest of the campaign). As a pending free agent, Mariota’s performances down the stretch will dictate his market value. Daniels, meanwhile, will look to rehab his injury without any procedure being necessary. Especially if he is not moved to IR, the door will remain open to a return at some point this season.
QB Jayden Daniels Suffers Dislocated Elbow
1:03am: A bit of overnight clarity has emerged here. Daniels is believed to have sustained a dislocated left elbow, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. While the star quarterback is not certain to be done for the season, Schefter notes he is out indefinitely. An MRI is scheduled for Monday.
11:10pm: Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared to suffer a significant left arm injury in Sunday night’s game against the Seahawks.
Team medical staff quickly put an air cast on Daniels’ arm. The cart came out onto the field, but he was able to walk off under his own power. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed in his postgame presser that Daniels injured his left elbow and said that he would provide an update once he knows more.
Despite a 38-7 deficit in the fourth quarter, Daniels was still in the game when a sack by Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas caused his elbow to bend in an unnatural direction. Quinn will surely get criticized for leaving his star quarterback in the game, especially if Daniels’ injury results in an extended absence
Backup Marcus Mariota finished the game, a loss that drops the Commanders to 3-6. Their playoff chances are now just 5%, according to The Athletic, and if Daniels is sidelined, their odds will be even slimmer. Missing the postseason would be a disappointing result for a Commanders squad that made a surprise run to the NFC championship game last season and seemed poised to build on that success this year.
The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Daniels headlined a deep quarterback class by soaring to the top rookie award on his side of the ball. He then piloted the Commanders to the conference title game, the franchise’s first appearance since its 1991 Super Bowl-winning season. The follow-up effort has skidded well off track.
Daniels entered Sunday night having missed time because of two previous injuries this season. Missing Week 8 with a hamstring injury, Daniels was down in Weeks 3 and 4 because of a knee malady. The Commanders have not used IR on their starting QB yet, but it would not surprise — especially after the team lost its sixth game — to see him moved off the roster to foster a smooth recovery. The team re-signed Mariota on a one-year, $8MM deal this offseason. After zero starts in 2024, the 11th-year veteran will almost definitely be needed for another QB1 stint.
Jayden Daniels To Return In Week 9; Terry McLaurin Ruled Out
OCTOBER 31: The Commanders confirmed Daniels will return for Week 9. This will cap his hamstring-driven absence count at one game, though the dynamic quarterback has missed three in total this season.
OCTOBER 29: Marcus Mariota has been needed during multiple points over the first half of this season, as Jayden Daniels has run into two injuries significant enough to sideline him. The second instance required a Mariota start against the Chiefs on Monday, but it appears the veteran’s second starter stint will be capped at one game.
Daniels is set to practice in full this week, via ESPN.com’s John Keim, moving him into position to miss just one full game with a hamstring injury. However, Daniels will once again not have his top wide receiver available.
The Commanders have already ruled out Terry McLaurin, who reinjured his quad during the Chiefs matchup. Daniels and McLaurin, as The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala points out, have only played two games together this season. Daniels’ arrival proved vital for McLaurin last season, ending a QB carousel that had begun to spin following Kirk Cousins‘ 2018 exit. McLaurin’s 13-touchdown season, followed by key playoff production, placed him on track to secure a three-year, $87MM extension. That deal has preceded this rare bout of McLaurin injury absences.
Washington sits at just 3-5 on the campaign, meaning the team has already lost as many games in 2025 as it did last year. A rebound in short order will be needed to reach the playoffs and leave the door open to a replication of 2024′ surprise run to the NFC title game. Having a healthy Daniels the rest of the way would be crucial, although the Commanders’ passing attack will still be notably shorthanded as long as McLaurin is absent. A long-term absence in his case is not anticipated by the team, head coach Dan Quinn said (via Keim).
Offseason trade acquisition Deebo Samuel arrived in the nation’s capital with more in the way of concerns regarding his durability compared to McLaurin. To date, though, the former 49ers All-Pro has managed to make seven appearances. In that time, Samuel has racked up 372 scrimmage yards and scored four touchdowns. An uptick in production could be in store provided Daniels returns, and in the event McLaurin missed notable time Samuel would remain a focal point on offense.
Daniels’ recovery will be handled with caution given his immense importance to the Commanders and the presence of a veteran QB2 in Mariota. Still, barring any setbacks over the coming days he will be in line to reprise his starting role against the Seahawks. Meanwhile, it will be interesting to monitor McLaurin’s recovery timeline as Washington seeks to bounce back from a poor start to the campaign and a return on the team’s latest investment in him.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.