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Washington Commanders quaretreback Jayden Daniels leaves game against Minnesota Vikings on Noveber 2, 2025.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels’ durability and effectiveness were called into question. After 2025, he played in seven games. Hosts from 106.7 The Fan discussed concerns about the signal-caller entering his third season.
Can Jayden Daniels be a reliable week-in and week-out starter? Last year, he proved the doubters wrong, playing through injuries and leading his team to playoff wins. This year, however, was a different story. Will he prove the doubters wrong? pic.twitter.com/rp2DbmT55W
— 106.7 The Fan (@1067theFan) February 3, 2026
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“Every single week, it seemed like he would be coming back from an injury. We wouldn’t know if he would be practicing or not. Then, he would play and not finish the game. Just four times all year, he started and finished the game without any issues. And the entire season was a debacle in terms of his health, and it was the biggest reason for the regression as a team. That’s where the question begins.”
As a rookie in 2024, Daniels won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award by passing for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns. He added 891 yards and six touchdowns. The Commanders won 12 games for the first time since their Super Bowl-winning season of 1991. Before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, Daniels led the Commanders to road victories. Wins against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions away from home.
Jayden Daniels 24/39, 258 PYDS, 5 TDs, 2 INT, 81 RUYDS vs PHI 2024 Week 16.
People are forgetting how good Jayden Daniels actually is.pic.twitter.com/uf4MR5G5M9 https://t.co/EbcyCLFCOu
— Football Performances (@NFLPerformances) December 17, 2025
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Last summer, Daniels disclosed that he played through cracked ribs and other nagging injuries during his rookie campaign. In the eyes of many, that cemented his status as a franchise quarterback.
GettyWashington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels scrambles during a December 7, 2025 game against the Minnesota Vikings.
Daniels’ 2026 Consistent Availability Remains in Question
From the first snap of 2025, the Washington quarterback endured a litany of injuries during the season. First, he suffered a knee sprain in Week 2, which cost him two games. Next, in Week 7, he left the game against the Dallas Cowboys with a hamstring injury. Two weeks later, the former LSU product suffered a dislocated elbow against the Seattle Seahawks.
Daniels missed a game but did not undergo surgery and returned against the Vikings in Week 14. During the game, he fell on the injured elbow. Subsequently, management ruled him out for the rest of the season.
GettyWashington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is attended to by staff during a game against the Seattle Seahawks
Risky Play Style Raises Concerns About Long-Term Health
Daniels, regardless of the situation or game, openly admitted that he refuses to slide. In the NFL, where defenders appear to enter the league faster each year, this poses an imminent physical threat when they contact the quarterback. After the third year of a first-rounder’s contract, franchises will more often than not exercise the fifth-year option.
Provided that Daniels can play at an elite level while being healthy, the Commanders could end up doing just that. However, if he doesn’t, the organization could be left looking for a new franchise quarterback.
Offensive Coordinator David Blough Could Play an Integral Role
The team parted ways with offensive Kliff Kingsbury. Daniels’ former quarterback coach, David Blough, assumes the role of playcaller. To preserve Daniels, Blough could re-emphasize the rushing attack. In 2025, Washington ran the ball 15 times more than it passed. With a backfield committee of running backs, the team could look to lean on them more, possibly taking a page from the Baltimore Ravens, who routinely rank in the top five.
However, quarterback runs would need to be replaced by more handoffs. The 2028 season, and possibly head coach Dan Quinn’s job, could hinge on the health of the quarterback.
Terrance Biggs Terrance started at heavy.com in January 2026
He is a veteran sportswriter with 12 years of experience, covering NFL, College, and MLB. Terrance has held positions at Sports Illustrated and Pro Football Sports Network. A graduate of Fort Hays State University with a bachelor’s in Communication, he is also a voting member of the Football Writers Association of America, United States Basketball Writers Association and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. More about Terrance Biggs
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