Talk about a gut punch for Washington fans, right? After a rough 30-13 loss to the Colts in London, head coach Dan Quinn threw out the one glimmer of good news: the hope is quarterback Jayden Daniels will be back on the field for Week 5 against the Giants. Quinn confirmed Daniels is slated for a full week of practice, hitting the field Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, which is definitely what they’re aiming for.
Mariota Down, Rookie Up: A Rocky Week 4
The reason Daniels’ potential return is so critical? Marcus Mariota, who was filling in, aggravated a preseason MCL injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s game after taking an awkward sack. Just like that, Washington was down to their third-string guy, seventh-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis from Rutgers. You gotta feel for the kid, coming in after only 12 plays, not exactly an ideal spot. Kaliakmanis did toss his first NFL touchdown, which is cool, but he also had a costly interception, and the team only managed to score once across his ten drives. Quinn gave him props for his confidence and fearlessness, but let’s be real, it was a tough spot. Quinn said Mariota’s getting more tests, but the goal is clearly to get Daniels back under center.
Mounting Injuries and O-Line Woes
Daniels’ own situation is tough. This potential Week 5 return comes after he dislocated his left elbow in Week 2 against the Cowboys, when left guard Chris Paul accidentally stepped on him and he went down wrong. That’s his second dislocated elbow in less than a year! The guy was the No. 2 overall pick in 2024, but only played in seven games last year. These injuries, plus the team’s struggles, are absolutely raising alarms about whether Daniels can protect himself and if the team can actually give him the support he needs. And honestly, looking at the rest of the squad, that support system is looking rough. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil tore his triceps way back in training camp. Right guard Sam Cosmi is still recovering from a concussion he got in Week 2. Even Terry McLaurin (hamstring) was out in Week 4. And the run game? Pathetic. Commanders running backs scraped together just 49 yards on 18 carries Sunday. Quinn straight up said, “For us, having run game is going to be a big deal.” He’s hoping Cosmi gets back to help balance things out, because they “don’t want to make it where he’s a dropback player and ‘Do all your magic every time.’”
This isn’t new territory for Daniels. He missed four weeks (three games plus a bye) in 2025 after his first elbow dislocation. When he came back, he re-aggravated it, and the team was out of the playoff picture, so he just sat for the rest of the season. This Week 5 game against the Giants is huge, not just for the team’s early season hopes, but for Daniels himself. Can he stay healthy? Can the line protect him? Those questions are getting louder by the week.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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