As the Commanders slip out of playoff contention in the NFC, there is good news on the horizon in Washington: Jayden Daniels is near a return to action.
The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year has a "chance" to play next week against the Minnesota Vikings after missing three games with a dislocated left elbow, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Sunday on NFL GameDay Morning.
Daniels has still yet to be cleared for contact -- he was limited in practice all this week -- and there is no firm decision as to whether he can go in Week 14, but the second-year signal-caller does have an opportunity to come back.
After recovering from knee and hamstring injuries earlier in the season, Daniels' injury misfortune continued in Week 10 when he dislocated his left elbow late in Washington's blowout loss to Seattle. He didn't suffer ligament damage or require surgery, but Daniels has been sidelined for four weeks now.
Marcus Mariota will start his third straight game Sunday against the Denver Broncos in place of Daniels (sixth overall this season). In seven games played, Mariota has gone 92-of-140 passing for 1,065 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Washington has won just one of his starts.
Before his third injury, Daniels was 102-of-168 passing for 1,184 yards, eight TDs and two picks in six starts, adding 262 yards and two scores on 54 rushing attempts.
At 3-8, Washington is closer to the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft than a wild-card berth. A loss to Denver would clinch the Commanders' eighth non-winning season in nine years.
Does Daniels really want to come back in a lost campaign, risking even further injury? The quarterback said earlier this week he's game.
"If I'm out there, man, I'm going to give it my all," Daniels told reporters at a charity event. "You want to go out there and play, as a competitor. And that's who I am."
Washington kicks off against Denver without Daniels -- perhaps for the last time this season -- from Northwest Stadium at 8:20 p.m. ET.
