Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels already made headlines after leaving Sunday’s game with a devastating arm injury. But it was just half of the entire QB buzz.
Social media detectives spotted something special on his wrist tape that has led to endless chatter, like his conservative mother likely finally got a competition.
Behind the Scenes of Jayden Daniels and JuJu Watkins’ Relationship
The second-year signal-caller suffered a devastating dislocated left elbow during Sunday night’s 38-14 blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
However, this has become an old subject because, hours before kickoff, eagle-eyed fans noticed that Daniels had “12 ❤️” written on his wristband during pregame warm-ups, which suddenly caught people’s attention.
Social media lit up when X user @MIKEYSAINRISTIL posted the crazy evidence, noting, “We see that 12 ❤️ on that wristband, Jayden Daniels.”
We see that 12❤️ on that wristband Jayden Daniels https://t.co/nQEus9vPXq pic.twitter.com/4eKJA7loHO
— 🌊 (@MIKEYSAINRISTIL) November 3, 2025
For the unversed, it matches USC basketball star JuJu Watkins’ jersey number, adding fuel to dating rumors that have burned for months.
Daniels and Watkins first gained attention when they sat courtside together at an NCAA women’s tournament game in March 2025. What made that moment unforgettable was Daniel’s mother, Regina Jackson, deliberately sitting between them like a wall. That mama-specific highlight led to countless memes and jokes about Jackson’s protective parenting style.
JuJu Watkins and Jayden Daniels know ball 🏀🏈 pic.twitter.com/Ex5mRstZF3
— ESPN (@espn) March 22, 2025
Watkins also traveled to celebrate with Daniels following the Commanders’ win over the Chargers, which added confirmation to the subtle relationship hint. She reportedly joined his family at SoFi Stadium for the big win.
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They were also spotted leaving Watkins’ 20th birthday party together in July, though neither has publicly confirmed they’re dating.
It seems that Daniels is now comfortable showing affection publicly, possibly signaling that Jackson has warmed to the USC phenom, or we know nothing about the behind-the-scenes love story.
Both Jayden Daniels and JuJu Watkins Battle with Injuries
Watkins knows the pain of sitting out too. She hurt her knee badly during the NCAA Tournament shortly after her first public outing with Daniels. The 20 suffered the injury in March 2025 during the second round. Doctors told her she must miss the whole 2025-26 basketball season.
Daniel’s injury also looked critical at first glance, as he completely snapped his arm backward when Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas sacked him in the fourth quarter.
Medical tests later brought better news. Doctors said he would only miss several weeks, not months. This news brought relief to Commanders fans who feared the worst.
And the wristband actually shows that both young stars are more than just casual friends. But since nothing is officially confirmed via his strict mother, let the mama’s boy keep things secret.
The signaller is already in trouble with the injury setback. He should only focus on his recovery now because Dan Quinn’s squad needs his QB 100% fit.
