The Philadelphia Eagles won’t be facing one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks down the stretch.
The Washington Commanders have decided to shut down Jayden Daniels for the final three games of the season, according to a Monday report from NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.
Daniels, who has dealt with several injuries this season, was re-evaluated on Monday and not medically cleared to return to action. The Commanders, who are already eliminated from postseason contention, then decided to shut him down.
That means Daniels will not start against the Eagles in either Week 16 or Week 18.
Instead, Commanders backup (and former Eagles QB) Marcus Mariota will face Philadelphia on Saturday.
Daniels was incredible last year, accounting for 4,459 yards (3,568 passing, 891 rushing) and 31 total touchdowns and winning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Daniels guided the Commanders to the NFC Championship game, where they lost, 55-23, to the Eagles.
But the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner’s sophomore season was brutal. The dual-threat QB suffered a knee sprain in Week 2 and missed two games. In Week 7, he suffered a hamstring injury that cost him a game. In Week 9, he suffered a dislocated elbow. And upon his return in Week 14, he re-aggravated that injury and hasn’t played since.
Mariota has been solid in Daniels’ place. The 2014 Heisman winner, who spent the 2023 season as Jalen Hurts’ backup, has completed 62% of his passes for 1,600 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 10 appearances. Mariota has also rushed for 298 yards and a score.
Mariota and the Commanders (4-10) will host the Eagles on Saturday at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md.
The Eagles will then welcome their NFC East division rivals for their regular-season finale on Jan. 4.