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The Washington Commanders are playing it safe with their franchise quarterback, as Jayden Daniels has been shut down for the remaining three games of the 2025 season.
Daniels’ return under center did not go as planned, leaving the game against the Minnesota Vikings early in Week 14 after aggravating his elbow injury while chasing Andrew Van Ginkel following an interception.
After seeing his replacement, Marcus Mariota, perform well in his place against the New York Giants in a win Sunday, head coach Dan Quinn announced the team’s decision Monday for Daniels, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year.
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Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders attends an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings at US Bank Stadium on December 7, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Quinn told reporters it was “part medical, part team” when it came to how they decided to move forward with Daniels.
Although he won’t participate on game day, Daniels will continue to practice with the team as they look to finish strong. The Commanders, 4-10 this season, have already been eliminated from the playoffs.
COMMANDERS’ JAYDEN DANIELS TAKES HIT AFTER INTERCEPTION, INJURIES SHOULDER
That’s obviously not how Daniels, or anyone in the Commanders’ building, wanted this season to go after reaching the NFC Championship Game in 2024. But the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft has been mired by injuries all season, starting with a sprained knee in Week 2.
After missing two games due to the illness, Daniels returned only to suffer a hamstring strain in Week 7 that caused him to miss one game. The biggest injury, however, came in Week 9, when he suffered a brutal, hard-to-watch elbow injury during a blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks at home, 38-14.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs the ball defended by Seattle Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas (42) during the second half at Northwest Stadium. (Amber Searls/Imagn Images)
Daniels burst onto the NFL scene as one of the best quarterbacks in football last season, leading the Commanders to a 12-5 record and immediately changing the trajectory of a franchise that had not reached the NFC championship game since their Super Bowl-winning season in 1991. Washington was blown away by their NFC East rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles, who went on to win Super Bowl LIX, but it was certainly a successful season since the team successfully selected its quarterback.
But as Daniels struggled with injuries this season, the Commanders couldn’t stay afloat. In fact, they ended an eight-game losing streak on Sunday with their 29-21 victory over the Giants.
Mariota was useful in Daniels’ absence despite the results. He threw for 1,600 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while totaling 298 yards and a score.
The 32-year-old went 10 of 19 for 211 yards with a touchdown in the win over New York at MetLife Stadium.
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While Mariota will start the remaining three games, veteran Josh Johnson will back him up, with Wake Forest and Notre Dame product Sam Hartman also on the practice squad.
