ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders are getting ready for a a big game Sunday against the No. 1 overall draft pick in Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears. It's still unclear if the game will be a matchup between Williams and the No. 2 overall pick, Jayden Daniels.
Daniels left Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers with a rib injury. Marcus Mariota took his place in the huddle and the first few throws were rough. After Mariota shook off some rust, however, the Commanders' offense was no less effective with the journeyman quarterback in charge than it was with the dazzling rookie.
The day after the Commanders' 40-7 win, head coach Dan Quinn said they were evaluating Daniels' injury every day. He told WUSA9's Chick Hernandez that he will look for Daniels to "fully express himself in the way that he plays" when it comes to putting him back in the lineup.
Now at 5-2, the Commanders are seven games into a season with playoff implications. Daniels has been a big part of the reason why.
Before practice on Wednesday Quinn said Daniels would not participate and continue treatment for the injury. Quinn expects to give another update on Daniels' health on Friday. He said he will continue to prepare as if he will start Sunday.
"Not a lot changes in the preparation piece for him, from the early mornings, to the VR work, to meetings, to treatment and all that," Quinn said. "He won't be in the practice portion today, but we love our process to get ready."
Meanwhile, DMV native Williams and the Bears are coming off a bye week and are sitting at 4-2, with three straight wins. If Daniels is healthy, it will be a matchup between quarterbacks drafted with the top two picks this year. Both Daniels and Williams have also won Heisman Trophies.
Quinn was clear that the upcoming opportunity to play Williams was not a special motivating factor for Daniels.
"No. You guys have all been around Jayden. I think 'anybody, anywhere, anytime' is really the mindset for him ... That's one of the things I really admire about him is his readiness, his wanting to go prove it," Quinn said.