ASHBURN, Va. — Jayden Daniels is considered a game-time decision for the Washington Commanders’ game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday due to a rib injury. After practicing on Friday, there remains a possibility he could face Caleb Williams in a matchup of rookie quarterbacks selected at the top of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Coach Dan Quinn said Friday that Daniels practiced in a limited capacity after sitting out Wednesday and Thursday. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year favorite was injured early in a 40-7 rout of Carolina last weekend.
"We will assess how he responds to the work that we did over the next 48 hours, but we really pushed it today," said Quinn. "Playing quarterback, the movements, the skills and also, specific to the gameplan. Going through the whole thing, all parts of the field."
Daniels said he felt good after practice, but it's not up to him whether he plays on Sunday.
"I want to play, but it's not my decision," Daniels said. "Ultimately, it's up to the trainers and Adam [Peters] and DQ [Dan Quinn] to make the decision to let me play if they feel confident too."
Daniels has thrown for 1,410 yards, ran for 372 and been responsible for 10 touchdowns through five-plus games. What the Commanders do not want to do is put Daniels in a spot where he cannot be himself on the field.
"From Sunday until now, it feels better, but I’ve still got some time, still got some marks I need to hit until they feel comfortable putting me out there," said Daniels.
“You want him to be able to play his game, but you want to almost protect him from himself at times because he’s going to play a certain way,” offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said Thursday. “He’s a fearless competitor, and he’s going to attack the moment. I think that’s just collectively, as an organization, we got to make sure that he’s full throttle and can play the way he wants to play before we put him out there.”
Daniels wouldn't get into specifics when asked about the nature of his injury.
“Something in my rib," he said. "It’s kind of hard to explain, but it’s something to the area right there.”
Journeyman Marcus Mariota would start if Daniels is unable to go. Kingsbury credited Quinn for formulating a plan to be ready for Daniels or Mariota to be under center.
Mariota completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns in relief of Daniels against the Panthers and has been preparing to start.
“It’s never easy when the starting quarterback goes down, so it’s really a collective effort from everybody to step their games up,” Mariota said Wednesday. “Going into this week, just trying to prepare and be ready to go if I am called upon.”
Mariota's teammates have all the faith that he can help them win if called upon.
“He was the ‘starter’ for a while up there in training camp as Jayden was kind of getting his feet underneath him," said running back Austin Ekeler. "Even in the offseason we went out to Oregon with Marcus and Jayden’s out there, we’ve got receivers out there, we’re throwing. It really as brought us together. Whoever is under center, it really doesn’t matter. We’re going to have full confidence and play at a high level.”
"I’m just glad Marcus and I have a rapport and Jayden and I have a rapport as well," said wide receiver Terry McLaurin. "It’s just about being on the same page when you go out there and making the plays when you get the opportunities, but I usually don’t sweat who’s back there."