The Washington Commanders ruled quarterback Jayden Daniels out again for Sunday’s Week 15 game against the New York Giants. It will be the seventh game Daniels has missed in 2025 after winning the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award last season.

Daniels returned last week after missing three games with a dislocated elbow. In the third quarter of Sunday’s loss to the Vikings, Daniels was intercepted and attempted to chase down Andrew Van Ginkel when he was hit trying to make the tackle. He landed on his previously injured elbow and left the game.

Head coach Dan Quinn offered the following update on Daniels on Wednesday:

“He did re-aggravate his elbow injury in the game,” Quinn said. “No structural setbacks. However, through the medical evaluations over the last couple of days, including this morning, doctors advised us to withhold him this Sunday.”

That means Marcus Mariota will make his seventh start this season. Daniels and Mariota are close, with the veteran serving as a mentor to Daniels through his first two seasons. What did Mariota say to Daniels after his latest setback?

“Yeah, for him it’s just taking it one day at a time, get healthy,” Mariota said about his conversations with Daniels. “I know he is doing everything in his power to do that. And then for us, it’s just a great opportunity to go play football and I’m looking forward to it and making sure our guys are ready.”

While Mariota didn’t specifically say what he and Daniels discussed, he did explain how frustrating it has been for Daniels being in and out of the lineup.

“I think at this point it’s part of the role,” Mariota said. “And I know it’s tough on kind of everybody, right? We’re both kind of similar players, but we’re very different in our own regard. And I think for everybody to kind of gel and come together, it is hard, but our guys have done a good job of just rallying in whoever it is at that position. And again, like I said, for Jay, it’s just continuing to take all this and learn and use it for his career, and hopefully, his experiences will help him in the future.”

The Commanders never expected Mariota to start seven games and potentially more in 2025. Daniels started every game in his rookie season. Unfortunately, Daniels has dealt with multiple nagging injuries this season, which has played a part in Washington’s struggles. At 3-10 and losers of eight straight games, the Commanders are on pace for a top-five pick, one season removed from playing in the NFC Championship Game.