The Washington Commanders might have to navigate their Week 3 game against the Las Vegas Raiders without star quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Daniels reportedly suffered a knee sprain in the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers and that leaves his status up in the air for this Sunday. The Commanders did not confirm that is his exact injury and only said he's day-to-day.
Daniels played in all 17 games last season, so if he doesn't go in Week 3 it will be the first game he has missed during his career. Marcus Mariota would get the start in the event that happens.
On Wednesday, head coach Dan Quinn provided a few updates on Daniels that were both positive and negative.
Jayden Daniels injury update
UPDATE: The Commanders' injury report has been released and it confirms Daniels' lack of participation on Thursday.
Today’s injury report: pic.twitter.com/1f6i1ZbUub
— John Keim (@john_keim) September 18, 2025
END OF UPDATE
UPDATE: As expected, Daniels is not practicing once again on Thursday.
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury noted that Daniels is "preparing mentally" for the game while backup Marcus Mariota is getting the reps in practice.
END OF UPDATE
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said that Daniels won't practice until Friday, at the earliest, which is a bad sign for his chances of suiting up.
However, Quinn also said that Daniels looked good in his rehab session, so that's a positive sign for his chances of playing against the Raiders. At the very least, it's a great sign that Daniels will return in Week 4 if he doesn't play in Week 3.
"Commanders coach Dan Quinn said that while Jayden Daniels had a good rehab session for his knee sprain, he won't practice until Friday at the earliest. Another sign that Marcus Mariota could very well be starting," Rapoport wrote.
Quinn added that Daniels has to get some practice time with the rest of the team before the team will feel OK with clearing him for Sunday.
Daniels did not meet with the media on Wednesday and instead was replaced by Mariota, who will start in his place if Daniels is ruled out.
Some construed that as a sign that Daniels won't play, but it's important to note that the Commanders did the same thing ahead of the Chicago Bears game last season when Daniels wasn't certain to play with a rib injury before he suited up.
On Thursday, Daniels did not practice for the second consecutive day. Quinn did say Daniels will not practice until Friday the earliest, and now that's confirmed.
For a second straight day today, Jayden Daniels isn’t practicing.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 18, 2025
Schefter also appeared on "the Pat McAfee Show" on Thursday, and he said "Daniels might miss a week or so."
Commanders' offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury addressed the media on Thursday, saying that Daniels is "preparing mentally."
With how important Daniels is to this team, and with how early it is in the season, the Commanders are likely to hold Daniels out if he's anything less than 100%.
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