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.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/29/25
Here are today’s taxi squad moves:
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from practice squad IR: WR Gabe Davis
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DE Jonathan Garvin, OL Royce Newman
Denver Broncos
- Signed: QB Sam Ehlinger
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: S Dante Barnett, CB Tyron Herring
Houston Texans
- Signed: TE Dalton Keene
- Released: RB Jawhar Jordan
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB D’Ernest Johnson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: RB Evan Hull
- Released: DT Coziah Izzard
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: OL Jack Driscoll, WR John Rhys Plumlee
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: KR Velus Jones
- Released: RB Myles Gaskin
Washington Commanders
- Signed: WR Robbie Chosen
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/28/25
Today’s practice squad transactions from across the NFL:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB AJ Woods
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: T Michael Tarquin
- Released: CB Michael Reid
Denver Broncos
- Released: OLB Garrett Nelson, WR Samori Toure
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Justin Shorter
- Released: LB Brian Asamoah II
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: WR Tyler Scott
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: CB Ethan Robinson
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: CB Kendall Sheffield
Minnesota Vikings
- Released: S K’Von Wallace
New England Patriots
- Signed: RB Rushawn Baker, RB Jonathan Ward
- Placed on practice squad/injured list: RB Jashaun Corbin
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Swayze Bozeman
- Released: WR Juice Wells Jr.
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: CB Parry Nickerson
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: S Darrick Forrest
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: T Andre Dillard
- Released: T Brandon Parker
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB Kemon Hall, WR Hal Presley
- Released: LB Ochaun Mathis
Washington Commanders
- Released: K Matthew Wright
The Steelers have seen injuries ravage their secondary in recent weeks. They made a big move not long ago to address the position, but Forrest comes in with some additional experience, providing depth at safety.
The 49ers are letting go of Parker, a former third-round pick who failed to find success with the Raiders, in order to make room for Dillard, a former first-round pick who failed to ever establish himself as a full-time starter in the NFL. Dillard spent the offseason with San Francisco, eventually getting released from injured reserve with an injury settlement. He’s been a free agent ever since and now signs his first ever practice squad deal.
After getting signed to the Commanders’ practice squad to fill in for an injured Matt Gay last night, Wright returns to free agency. In a low-scoring Sunday night affair, Wright made his only kick — a single extra point attempt.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/27/25
A look at Monday’s practice squad moves from around the NFL…
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: TE Caden Prieskorn
- Released: RB Ahmani Marshall
Detroit Lions
- Released: CB Kendall Fuller
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
- Released: DE Seth Coleman
Philadelphia Eagles
- Released: DE Titus Leo
Washington Commanders
- Released: WR Robbie Chosen
The Lions have moved on from Fuller just under two weeks after they brought him into the fold. A 104-game starter in the NFL, the 30-year-old joined the Lions on Oct. 14 with injuries ravaging their secondary. He didn’t appear in a game with the Lions, though, and they’re parting with him after their secondary held its own in a Week 7 win over the Buccaneers. Now coming off their bye, the Lions could get injured corner Terrion Arnold (shoulder) back from a two-game absence on Sunday against the Vikings. Arnold will participate in padded practice on Tuesday, per Rainer Sabin of the Detroit Free Press.
A second-round pick of the Chiefs in 2017, Kpassagnon played in four games with the Bears earlier this season. The 31-year-old picked up five tackles and a sack before the team released him on Oct. 21.
Chosen, who signed with the Commanders on Sept. 30, made his lone appearance with them in a loss to the Cowboys in Week 7. As part of what was a depleted receiving corps, Chosen hauled in all four targets for 36 yards. However, Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel are healthy again, leading the Commanders to cut ties with Chosen. Since debuting with the Jets in 2016, Chosen has amassed 384 receptions and 30 touchdowns.
Commanders Sign Matthew Wright To Practice Squad, Elevate K For Week 8
The Commanders will attempt to derail the Chiefs without Jayden Daniels tonight, but their Marcus Mariota-led effort will involve a backup kicker as well. Matt Gay is out for this matchup, leading a former Chief back to Arrowhead Stadium for emergency duty.
Washington added Matthew Wright to its practice squad today, and that move will precede a second transaction involving the nomadic fill-in specialist. Following this practice squad signing, the Commanders announced Wright will be one of their gameday elevations. He will kick for the visitors tonight.
Gay suffered a back injury during practice, being moved to the injury report Saturday. That forced the Commanders into this 11th-hour addition. Wright will join defensive tackle Sheldon Day as gameday elevations, per the team. Day, though, has been on the team’s P-squad throughout the season. This will be Wright’s first game action, though he does have a notable past in Kansas City.
A previous Harrison Butker fill-in, Wright once set the Arrowhead Stadium record for longest field goal by booting a 59-yard try before halftime in a 2022 win over the Raiders. Butker returned the following week and broke the record by hitting a 62-yarder before the half in a loss to the Bills. Wright later circled back to the Chiefs as a 2024 Butker replacement, kicking in two games. This included a 19-17 win over the Chargers, when Wright clanked a field goal off the upright and through for one of the Chiefs’ many close 2024 wins.
Overall, the six-year veteran has kicked for six teams. His only extended work came in a 14-game run with the 2021 Jaguars. Wright has also kicked for the Steelers, Panthers, 49ers and Titans. The Tennessee work has come over the past two seasons. He stopped through as a Joey Slye replacement in one game this season. Last year, he kicked for the Titans, 49ers and Chiefs, making 15 of 16 field goal tries.
Gay, who signed with Washington soon after his Indianapolis release, remains on the team’s active roster. Though, it is not known if the veteran will be ready to return for Week 9.
Commanders WRs Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel To Play In Week 8
OCTOBER 26: For the first time since Week 3, the Commanders will have their top two wideouts on the field at the same time. Head coach Dan Quinn told reporters (including the Washington Post’s Tashan Reed) that McLaurin and Samuel will suit up for the club’s Week 8 battle with the Chiefs on Monday.
Of course, it will be Marcus Mariota, not Daniels, under center as the 3-4 Washington outfit looks to snap its two-game skid.
OCTOBER 18: The Commanders will face some unfortunate challenges as they head to the Lone Star State for a matchup with the division-rival Cowboys. After placing Noah Brown on injured reserve this week, there was still hope that wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel could be available for the trip. Unfortunately, Jayden Daniels will be without all three pass catchers Sunday afternoon as Samuel stays in Washington with a heel injury, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. 
The Commanders have experience working without Brown, who started the first two games of the year before a groin injury held him out for the last four. After missing that much time, it’s clear that Washington should’ve put him on IR sooner. Doing so at this point only ensures his already extended absence will now be at least half the season.
The team is likely used to being without McLaurin, as well, considering he’s only played one more game than Brown. McLaurin suffered a knee sprain that held him out of the team’s Week 4 game, but Washington opted not to place him on IR, since he didn’t require surgery. It’s since been categorized as a quad injury that held him out two more weeks and will now do as much damage as if he had been placed on IR.
This week, McLaurin will be the second wide receiver taking up a spot on Washington’s 53-man roster for four weeks, when the Commanders could’ve supplemented their roster with more bodies by placing them on IR. It’s a tough line to toe, determining whether or not a player will be able return to the field within four weeks, but between Brown and McLaurin, it’s hit Washington twice this year as they’ve essentially played three weeks with a self-imposed 51-man roster.
Samuel’s been dealing with his heel issue for the past three weeks, but before this week, any absences at practice were categorized as “NIR(Rest)/Heel,” indicating non-injury related rest while still acknowledging some issue with his heel. The injury never held him out, though. The offseason trade acquisition has been Daniels’ most reliable target as he leads the team in every receiving category.
In the absence of Brown and McLaurin, it’s been veteran Chris Moore, last year’s third-round pick Luke McCaffrey, and rookie fourth-rounder Jaylin Lane stepping up in Washington. With Samuel out this week, as well, all three will need to step up even more moving forward. In the winning trip to Los Angeles, Samuel saw 11 targets, and no one else saw more than two. Last week, things were a bit more spread out as Samuel and Moore saw five targets apiece and Ertz saw six.
Daniels has done his best to spread out the ball and keep everyone incorporated in the offense so as not to become one-note. While doing so, though, the team’s 2-1 start has been offset by a 1-2 record without McLaurin. Daniels, in his second year of NFL play, has been dealt an ugly hand early in his career, but Washington will count on the roster they’ve built to support him.
It was almost guaranteed that at least one team’s two standard gameday practice squad elevations would be a wide receiver. Among the options were the team’s most recent signee, Treylon Burks, veteran Robbie Chosen, and undrafted rookie Ja’Corey Brooks, who was called up last week. The Commanders landed on Chosen with one elevation, but the other will be used to bring up defensive tackle Sheldon Day. Luckily, it may be a soft test for the youthful offensive crew as they face a Dallas defense that is giving up the most passing yards per game in the NFL.
Commanders To Start Marcus Mariota In Week 8
Jayden Daniels‘ rocky second season will endure another absence. Due to a hamstring strain suffered in Week 7, the standout Commanders quarterback will take a seat for at least a game. Marcus Mariota will draw the start against the Chiefs on Monday night, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets.
Daniels missed Weeks 3 and 4 with a knee injury and Washington went 1-1 with Mariota under center. Daniels played well upon his return, but did not finish the Commanders’ Week 7 loss.
In his first start, Mariota led the offense to 41 points against a below-average Raiders defense. His performance dipped in his next game, but the Commanders still put up 27 points against the Falcons, who have allowed the second-fewest yards and eighth-fewest points this season. The Chiefs, Mariota’s next opponent, rank among the top five teams in both categories in another impressive season from Steve Spagnuolo‘s unit. A hot Kansas City offense could also put up a lot of points against a Commanders defense that has allowed at least 24 points in five of their seven games.
An MRI on Monday revealed that Daniels did not suffer a long-term injury, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter, but it still seems like a multi-game absence is on the table. The Commanders play the Lions and the Seahawks in Weeks 7 and 8 before traveling to Madrid to play the Dolphins. That trip could factor into Washington’s approach to Daniels’ return. If he misses their next two games, the team may not want him to return amid the hassles and hiccups of an overseas game. With a bye the next week, though, Daniels’ would not be able to play until Week 11, giving him enough time to heal but missing two games against NFC contenders and an unpredictable matchup in Spain. Those could all be tough matchups for Mariota.
Injury concerns were one of the pre-draft knocks on Daniels due to his lean build and somewhat reckless running style. He played through multiple injuries as a rookie and started all 17 games, but he will now miss his third game with his second injury of the year. That could do serious damage to the Commanders’ playoff chances, especially with what could be a tough post-bye schedule.
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/21/25
Today’s minor moves:
Cleveland Browns
- Waived from IR: WR Cade McDonald
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed from practice squad: CB Kevin Knowles
- Placed on IR: DT Omarr Norman-Lott
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: RB Velus Jones
New York Giants
- Signed off Jets’ practice squad: CB Korie Black
Washington Commanders
- Signed: DE Jalyn Holmes
The Commanders turned to a familiar face to replace DoranceArmstrong, who is done for the season after suffering a knee injury this past weekend. Washington cut Jalyn Holmes just the other day to make room for guard Sam Cosmi on the active roster, but he quickly found his way back to the active roster. The defensive end has seen time in four games this season, and he collected a pair of sacks in 11 appearances with the franchise in 2024.
Commanders DE Dorance Armstrong Out For Season
The Commanders’ defensive front will be shorthanded for the remainder of the campaign. Dorance Armstrong suffered a knee injury on Sunday, and he will not be able to return in 2025. 
Earlier today, The Exhibit’s Josina Anderson reported Armstrong was seeking out a second opinion on his injury. Since then, head coach Dan Quinn has announced the veteran defensive end is out for the year. The news deals a blow to Washington’s defensive front, a unit which Armstrong was leading.
The Commanders rank fifth in the NFL with 19 sacks in 2025. A team-high 5.5 of those have come from Armstrong, so his loss will be acutely felt. The 28-year-old has reached five or more sacks every year since 2021, and he has remained a productive contributor for Washington after his time in Dallas. Following head coach Dan Quinn from one team to the other last spring, Armstrong operated as a full-time starter during his first year in the nation’s capital.
In 2025, the former fourth-rounder’s playing time dropped compared to his career-high workload from last season. Still, it will be challenging for the Commanders to replace Armstrong while looking to take needed steps forward elsewhere on defense. Washington sits just 27th in total defense at the moment, something which has played a crucial role in the team’s 3-4 record and overall struggles compared to last year.
Armstrong is under contract through 2026, although none of his base salary for next season ($8.6MM) is guaranteed. As such, a restructure amounting to a pay cut could be in store based on his missed time to close out the current campaign. Keeping the Kansas product in the fold will no doubt be a priority for the Commanders this offseason, but his value has obviously taken a hit with this news.
In the meantime, Washington will move forward with a pass rush group led by Von Miller, Jacob Martin and hybrid linebacker Frankie Luvu. The Commanders recently signed Drake Jackson, but as planned he was moved to injured reserve shortly after being added. As such, Washington could be in the market for an EDGE addition ahead of the trade deadline.
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels Leaves Game With Hamstring Injury
The Commanders were just beginning to enjoy the return of quarterback Jayden Daniels after a two-week absence earlier in the season, but they may be looking at another absence in Daniels’ sophomore campaign. Daniels was knocked out of today’s game in Dallas with a hamstring injury, and there’s a chance the injury could affect him long term.
After playing through fractured ribs in his rookie season, Daniels has spent quite a bit of his sophomore campaign working to get healthy. He first appeared on the injury report in Week 2 with a reported injury to the wrist on his throwing hand. He would play in that game, but he would come away from it with a knee sprain that would cause him to miss the next two games. Daniels was eventually able to return to the field, though, and continued to look like his usual, mobile self.
Things took a turn in today’s loss to the Cowboys, though, when linebacker Shemar James strip-sacked him, and Daniels was left on the ground grabbing at the back of his leg. The team took Daniels straight to the blue medical tent to be evaluated, and he was eventually seen jogging to the locker room. While seeing him put active weight on his leg seemed a good sign, he was soon diagnosed with a hamstring injury and listed as questionable to return, getting ruled out for the rest of the game 30 minutes later.
There may be nothing to fret about yet, but the team has scheduled an MRI for Monday in order to determine the severity of Daniels’ injury, per JP Finlay of NBC Sports. The fact that they find an MRI necessary at all could be cause for concern. If bad enough, hamstring injuries can easily require multi-week recoveries, which means Daniels could be in danger of missing even more time this year.
If the MRI brings back unfortunate results, Washington does employ one of the league’s more formidable backup quarterbacks. By the time Marcus Mariota entered today’s game, a 41-15 deficit was too much to overcome. Earlier in the season, though, Mariota split his two spot starts, winning big against the Raiders at home but losing by a touchdown in Atlanta. In those two starts, he completed just under 65 percent of his pass attempts for three touchdowns and an interception. He added another touchdown on the ground, along with 60 yards on eight carries.
Washington will hope for the best news to come out of tomorrow’s MRI, but either way, they will have a quarterback who can give them a chance to win games. With a 3-4 record and a daunting three-game stretch on the horizon, there’s very little room for error if the Commanders want to make the playoffs. We’ll likely find out over the next couple of days whether or not it will be Daniels behind center for a Monday night trip to Kansas City followed by back-to-back home games against the Seahawks and Lions.