Jayden Daniels returns to full practice; Commanders expect him to start vs. Giants
Jayden Daniels returned to full practice Wednesday for the Washington Commanders, and the club expects him to start Sunday against the New York Giants if he remains symptom-free. Daniels sat out the teamarlier two games while recovering from a dislocation of his non-throwing elbow. That injury marked his second dislocation in a calendar year, according to team reports. Head coach Dan Quinn called the full-practice designation a positive step toward getting the offense back on track.
Daniels worked in a protective brace on his left arm that Quinn said he will wear for the remainder of the season. The brace does not fully extend the joint and is intended to reduce the risk of reinjury. He wore the brace under a sleeve during practice and had been a limited participant during last weeks sessions. There was an outside chance he could have played the prior Sunday in London against the Indianapolis Professional Football Team, but the Commanders opted to give him another week to recover.
The coaching staff emphasized drills that teach quarterbacks to protect themselves in contact by clasping the ball and rolling to the ground. Quinn also emphasized sliding and throwing the ball away when appropriate as part of the teams protective plan. He said the staff will not rush Daniels back and that they plan to trust the process while evaluating him through a full week of work. Those steps are intended to preserve the quarterbacks health while allowing him to resume his role.
Daniels acknowledged frustration at suffering a similar injury to the one he sustained earlier this year but said he plans to embrace the brace as part of his recovery. He said he has consulted multiple specialists and is very confident he can regain full game speed. Before the injury, he completed just under 57% of his passes, threw three touchdown passes with no turnovers and began to find a rhythm late in the first half against the Dallas Cowboys, totaling 165 yards of offense in that stretch. The Commanders will continue to monitor him through practice this week.
Washington enters the game with a 1-3 record, and a victory would give the club its first NFC East win and improve its record to 2-3. The Commanders believe they have their best chance to win with Daniels under center if he is healthy. The team consulted multiple specialists before clearing him to resume full practice, and Quinn said the staff will continue to evaluate him for Sunday. Daniels stressed that the injury involved his non-throwing arm and said he intends to attack with his throwing arm.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Daniels practicing fully is a meaningful development for a Commanders offense that has struggled for consistency. The brace and the teams emphasis on protective techniques reduce some immediate risk to his non-throwing arm while allowing Washington to get its best quarterback back on the field. His early-season efficiency 2 three touchdowns and no turnovers before the injury 2 suggests his presence materially improves Washingtons chances of stabilizing the offense. Coach Quinns cautious approach provides room for final evaluation this week, but the full-practice designation is a strong signal that Daniels will be available Sunday if he remains symptom-free.