With their postseason chances sitting at less than 1%, the Washington Commanders will have Jayden Daniels in the lineup for Sunday’s game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Jayden Daniels Returns
HC Dan Quinn confirmed that Jayden Daniels will start Sunday vs. the Vikings pic.twitter.com/mLFYcwuwbC
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 5, 2025
The 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is back.
Commanders coach Dan Quinn announced on Friday that Daniels will start Week 14’s game against the Vikings.
Daniels has suffered numerous injuries this season, including a sprained left knee and a strained right hamstring. Daniels missed three games because of those injuries.
In Week 9’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow. Daniels has missed the last four games and only returned to practice last week.
One week later, Daniels is cleared for contact and set to play for the first time in over a month.
Daniels is 105 of 168 for 1,184 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions in six games. Daniels also has 262 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
With the Postseason Nearly Out of Reach, Why is Daniels Playing?
LIVE: QB Jayden Daniels speaks to the media after practice https://t.co/ixnPEmGXpG
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 5, 2025
It’s been a tale of two seasons for the Commanders. Last year, the Commanders went on a magical run in Daniels’ rookie year, finishing with a 12-5 regular season record.
The Commanders upset the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions to reach the NFC Championship before falling to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Expectations were high heading into the 2025 season. However, injuries have derailed the Commanders’ progress in 2025, with Daniels and Terry McLaurin missing significant time.
Heading into Week 14, the Commanders have less than a 1% chance of making the playoffs, per NFL.com. Washington will be eliminated from making the postseason with a loss.
There is literally no margin for error.
With the postseason likely out of reach, why not let Daniels shut it down for the rest of the season? Quinn believes Daniels needs the experience to improve as a quarterback.
“It’s important that Jayden’s getting going, learning to play this position at the highest level competitively,” Quinn said via Commanders.com. “Also doing it safely. Those are reps that you develop as well. It’s a skill just like throwing and processing. All those things are important.”
How does Daniels feel about returning to the field? For him, shutting it down was never an option. He wants to play.
“It’s my second year in the NFL; you learn a lot of different things,” Daniels said. “It wouldn’t be my first time going through adversity.”
