What Did Jayden Daniels Say About Returning to Commanders This Season Amid Injury?

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels says he wants to rejoin his team once he's cleared to play for the first time since suffering a dislocated left elbow on Nov. 2.

When asked if he had any concern about re-injuring his hurt elbow, Daniels answered: "Gotta go out there and play football. If I'm back out there, I'm healthy and I'm ready to go, I want to be out there."

Daniels' left arm bent visibly backward at the elbow on a fourth-quarter sack by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas in Week 9.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported five days later that Daniels had not suffered ligament damage or broken bones, and that his injury would not necessitate surgery.

Daniels still missed two games before he was cleared to return to practice this week for the first time since suffering the injury.

He has not yet been cleared to take contact, head coach Dan Quinn told reporters Monday.

"He'll probably be unlikely to play," Quinn said ahead of Sunday's Week 13 matchup with the visiting Denver Broncos. "But man, it's good to get started, and get the return to play going."

Following a Week 12 bye, the Commanders are riding a six-game losing streak into Sunday's game against the Broncos.

It sounds likely that Marcus Mariota will likely be tasked with starting a third straight game this weekend as Daniels works on taking a step closer to potentially returning before the end of the 2025 season.

The priority for the Commanders, however, will likely be Daniels' long-term health. Now that the team is all but eliminated from 2025 playoff contention, the focus could soon turn to getting Daniels and his long list of injured teammates fully healthy in time for next fall.