After head coach Dan Quinn said he will return, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels talks about returning to the field, his rehab process, and battling back: “It'll be great for the whole band to be back together, so it'll be fun."
For the first time in over one month, Jayden Daniels is set to take over as the Commanders’ starting quarterback as Washington prepares to face Minnesota. Daniels is already ready, physically and mentally, with aspirations to end his second season on a high note.
“I had time to sit back and reflect and focus my energy other [ways] and I was being a great teammate,” Daniels said on Friday.
Daniels suffered a fractured elbow in the primetime loss vs. Seattle before returning to practice coming out of the bye week, though head coach Dan Quinn has been patient with the rehab process. Daniels added he felt comfortable “this week” after becoming a full participant in Thursday’s practice.
“Range of motion, other little things and psychologically, I had that itch. I had that itch ever since I got hurt,” Daniels added. “But I had that itch to get back there on the field and just strength and everything. I felt confident I could be myself out there.
The question during Daniels’ absence also centered around whether the reigning Rookie of the Year should come back with playoff aspirations dashed and draft order left to settle, in line for the franchise’s second top-ten selection in the last three years. But for Daniels, he noted the return from his gruesome injury was “something that I got to battle through. You go through adversity at some point, so however you approach it, and try to weather the storm and come out and see the light at the end of the tunnel,” he added.
Daniels scoffed at the idea of sitting out for the rest of 2025 to protect himself amid a three-win season.
“Every season [is] different. A lot of things happen. So you really just trying to go out there and finish the season strong. I'm healthy enough to go out there and play, and who am I to go out there and not tell my teammates I want to play, because something out of my control? So I'm gonna go out there, give my all, and obviously be smart. But at the end day, I'm really focused on these last couple [of] games and, you know, see where the tables turn.”
Sunday could also mark the closest that Washington’s offense has been to full strength since week two with wide receiver Noah Brown expected to return, though head coach Dan Quinn noted he’s listed as ‘questionable’ since he has yet to be taken off IR, a move that’s expected to occur on Saturday. Washington also added wide receiver Terry McLaurin the week prior, blowing through his pre-determined snap count to post 96 yards and one touchdown on seven catches.”
“It'll be great for the whole band to be back together, so it'll be fun,” Daniels added. I don't think we have any expectation. I just want to go out there and execute a high level with the guys and see what we could do.”
The time away from football also gave Daniels a chance to get a different perspective on the game, now just looking to “go out there and play football.”
“The passion I have for the game is what I learned more. When something gets taken away from you, you kind of take it for granted. So at that moment, that's kind of what was running through my mind. And I really want to go back out there. I was more so miserable I can't like play because I've been playing football my whole life. And as a competitor, I want to be out there but I was also happy for Marcus [Mariota]. I was happy for the guys to see how they battled and bounced back each and every week and how they played. And all I did was kind of just focus my energy on, like I said, being a great teammate in my rehab.”