The Washington Commanders have been one of the top stories for the NFL this season as they have looked outstanding. However, things have seemingly turned a bit sour as rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels left the game and headed to the locker room with an apparent rib injury as backup quarterback Marcus Mariota replaced him.
Jayden Daniels as able to seemingly t the entire drive that gave the Washington Commanders a 10-0 lead late in the first quarter but would head to the blue medical tent to get checked out. After that, he would head to the locker room and his return is officially listed as questionable.
This would be significant if the Washington Commanders are without Jayden Daniels for an extended period of time, but in terms of this Week 7 game, it appears they are in great shape going up against a struggling Carolina Panthers team. Having a quality backup in Marcus Mariota means that the Washington Commanders should not completely struggle while they wait for Jayden Daniels to return to the field.
Daniels had gone 2-of-2 for six yards through the air and three carries for 50 yards (16.7 yards per rush) before leaving the game. They are not the only NFC East team dealing with quarterback issues right now though.
Can Jayden Daniels lead the Washington Commanders to the playoffs?
The Washington Commanders look like a legitimate team that is very similar to what the 2023 Houston Texans looked like. The team is 4-2 entering today’s slate of games and first in the NFC East under coach Dan Quinn. Having Jayden Daniels playing at an NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year level certainly helps as he has looked incredible thus far.
The defense needs to improve, as their 24.2 points per game given up is 22nd in the sport but the offense is looking significantly better thus far. The team has to step up defensively but should be able to and make the playoffs this season.
About the Author
Vincent Pensabene graduated from Saint Leo University in 2019 with a B.A. in Sport Business and has focused on the media side of sports. He writes for multiple publications and is interested in the reasoning of why things happen. Feel free to follow him on social media @TalkVinTalk and discuss all things sports.