Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will return to practice this week but is unlikely to play against the Denver Broncos, Coach Dan Quinn said Monday.
Quinn said Daniels already has been cleared to return to the practice field, just three-plus weeks after he dislocated his left elbow in a Nov. 2 loss to Seattle. But the quarterback has not been cleared to absorb contact, which is a necessary precursor to him playing in a game.
“That means he’ll probably be unlikely to play [Sunday night against Denver],” Quinn said. “But man is it good to get started and get the return-to-play [process] going, so that’s a big deal for us.”
Daniels’s impending return gives Washington (3-8) a rare piece of positive injury news coming out of its bye week. Assuming he does not play Sunday, Daniels could return as soon as Dec. 7 in Minnesota or Dec. 14 against the New York Giants.
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It might seem like a remarkable recovery, given the gruesome nature of the injury. But elbow dislocations are often not as severe as they appear, according to Keith Meister, an elbow surgeon and a team physician for the Texas Rangers. Meister said earlier this month that, in many cases, athletes who dislocate an elbow can recover and return to competition in a matter of weeks. (Meister stressed that he had no knowledge of Daniels’s injury and had not seen footage of the play.)
Daniels appeared on track to return at some point this season, as more information became known about the extent of the injury. The quarterback avoided a fracture or ligament damage, either of which would have complicated — and prolonged — his rehabilitation process. And the Commanders opted not to place him on injured reserve, which would’ve knocked him out for at least four games.
With Daniels sidelined, the Commanders have continued losing; their six-game skid has left them with minuscule odds of returning to the playoffs. Together, those developments have sparked a debate among fans about whether Daniels should play again this season, even if healthy.
Some have argued that the team should effectively punt on 2025 and preserve Daniels’s health for 2026. Others believe that sitting Daniels would run counter to the competitive culture that Quinn has sought to instill. Quinn said team brass did not consider shutting down Daniels.
“That’s not something we really discussed internally,” he said. “The first part for us, honestly, was: How are we going to get the player better? And let’s dig in on that first, not knowing the exact time frame. So that’s really where the focus was right away and right off the bat.”
Daniels, the reigning offensive rookie of the year, has battled injuries for much of the season — including a left knee sprain and a right hamstring strain before the elbow injury. He has started just six of the team’s 11 games and finished only four of them.
Asked Monday about the importance of Daniels playing again this season, Quinn said every repetition counts.
“It’s important as Jayden’s getting going, learning to play the position at the highest level competitively — also, doing it safely. Those are reps that you develop, as well,” Quinn said. “It’s a skill just like throwing and processing, so all those things are important.”
Daniels is not the only injured starter who could soon be nearing a return. Here’s the latest coming out of the bye week on three other Commanders on track to return in the coming weeks.
McLaurin set for ramp-up
Wide receiver Terry McLaurin (right quadriceps/hip flexor strain) participated in a light practice Monday, Quinn said, and the hope is that he can ramp up as the week progresses.
“It wasn’t like a full-speed, hauling-a– day, but that’s kind of what we’re hoping the progression for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday looks like for he and some of his teammates,” Quinn said. “But yeah, he’s really worked hard. To see us take the next step, we’ll see where it takes us, but it was awesome to have him out there today. I’m excited for him.”
McLaurin initially missed four games with this injury, then returned against the Kansas City Chiefs and aggravated it. Quinn said it was “too early to call” whether McLaurin will be available to play Sunday, but the coach was heartened to see the 30-year-old wideout back on the practice field.
“I’m excited about the possibilities, because of his speed and how he’s moving,” he said.
‘Very optimistic’ about Harris
Safety Will Harris is on track to return Sunday night, Quinn said. He has been gradually ramping up in his return from the fractured right fibula he suffered Sept. 21 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
“[He] had the week out in Spain, as well, of full-on practice to go. And then more conditioning, more movements this past week,” Quinn said. “So yeah, we’re very optimistic heading into this week for him and all that he’s done to get himself ready to go.”
Harris joined the Commanders earlier this year and had been expected to play a key role on defense, helping anchor the secondary alongside Quan Martin. His expected return will provide a much-needed boon to a unit that has been decimated by injuries — and perhaps help improve some of the communication issues that have plagued Washington in his absence.
Brown, Jackson nearing return
The Commanders opened wide receiver Noah Brown’s 21-day practice window Monday, indicating that he is one step closer to returning from the right groin strain that has sidelined him for the bulk of the season. Brown missed four games before being placed on injured reserve, which required him to miss four more.
Defensive end Drake Jackson, whose practice window opened Nov. 13, is also expected to continue practicing this week ahead of a potential late-season debut. Jackson is recovering from a knee injury he suffered last year as a member of the San Francisco 49ers.
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