The Washington Commanders might have dodged a major bullet with quarterback Jayden Daniels avoiding injured reserve, but that doesn’t change the immediate future for our Seattle Seahawks’ Week 3 matchup. After a serious-looking left elbow injury in their Week 2 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, there was real concern Daniels would be sidelined for a minimum of four weeks on IR. Especially since it’s the exact same elbow that cost him much of the 2026 season, keeping him off the field for a huge chunk of the year. The initial vibe out of Washington was pure dread, I’m telling you, with IR looking like a very real, very possible outcome for their young QB.
Commanders Avoided A Nightmare Scenario, For Now
Let’s be real, when you hear “same elbow” and “missed much of last season,” your stomach just drops, right? The concern for Daniels was absolutely legitimate, and the buzz was heavy that he might be headed for a lengthy stint on injured reserve. But then, the reports started trickling in from the big dogs, Ian Rapoport and Adam Schefter from NFL Network. And the news was straight fire for Washington fans: Jayden Daniels is NOT going on IR! This isn’t just a small update, this is a massive one. After the team got those imaging results back and consulted with multiple specialists all week, the consensus is clear: Daniels is officially “week-to-week.” Both Daniels and the Commanders are locked in on getting him back on the field ASAP, and avoiding that minimum four-week absence is huge for them.
Why This Is Still A Huge Opportunity For Our Hawks
Now, here’s where it gets good for us, Emerald City faithful. Even with Daniels sidestepping IR and only expected to miss “a few games,” he is still, without a doubt, going to miss their Week 3 matchup against our Seattle Seahawks! The Commanders are confident they’ll have him back in the next three weeks, which means he’d be returning before their Week 7 bye. Think about it: if they had put him on IR before Week 3, he’d be out of commission through Week 6, right up to that bye. So, by keeping him off the list, Washington is basically screaming that they believe this injury isn’t as severe as it might’ve initially seemed. They’re convinced he’ll be good to go shortly.
But for *this* Sunday, for our Hawks, this is a golden opportunity! Our defense, under Coach Mike Macdonald, won’t have to game plan for a starting QB who was just playing. This gives our offense, with Sam Darnold, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Rashid Shaheed, and Cooper Kupp, a prime chance to absolutely feast against a team that’s missing its main man under center. This isn’t just another game, 12s; it’s a chance to build some serious momentum early in the season and show the league what we’re made of.
Next up, our Seattle Seahawks hit the road for that Week 3 showdown, and you know what’s at stake. With the Commanders’ starting quarterback sidelined for *this* game, it’s a massive chance for us to make a statement and grab a crucial win. Let’s make some noise and bring that W home!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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