The top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft — quarterbacks Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels — are scheduled to meet Sunday when the Chicago Bears visit the Washington Commanders.
Whether they’re actually on the field will not be determined until Sunday as the Commanders classified Daniels as a game-time decision following his only practice of the week on Friday.
Daniels sustained a rib injury on the Commanders’ first play from scrimmage in a 40-7 blowout of the Carolina Panthers last week. He stayed in the game after his 46-yard run but didn’t return after the drive ended with a field goal and was held out of practice Wednesday and Thursday.
“Jayden was able to practice (Friday),” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said. “We followed the plan really that we set at the start of the week. … Think crawl, walk, run. We will assess how he responds to the work that we did over the next 48 hours, but we really pushed it today. We’ll make the best decision for him and the team.”
It’s a homecoming for top draft pick Williams, who grew up in the Washington area and won the Heisman Trophy at USC one year before Daniels took home his own at LSU last December.
Chicago (4-2) is coming off a bye while the Commanders (5-2) rebounded from a close loss to the Ravens by hammering Carolina.
Quinn said the Commanders are viewing Daniels as week-to-week, but the hope was that he could be ready Sunday. He attended meetings and received injury treatment between his usual game preparation, which includes virtual reality response and reaction training, and individual film study.
If Daniels can’t go, veteran backup Marcus Mariota will face the Bears’ fifth-ranked defense. Against the Panthers, Mariota came on to start the second series and completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns.
“I’d expect nothing else of him,” wide receiver Terry McLaurin said. “He’s been a leader since he got here. He’s really helped Jayden along, and we’ve really built some camaraderie with him as well.”
The injury has been the only thing able to slow Daniels. The 23-year-old has completed 75.6 percent of his passes for 1,410 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions. Daniels has 372 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Williams, 22, has been impressive during his rookie campaign as well, completing 65.3 percent of his passes for 1,317 yards with nine touchdowns and five interceptions.
The Bears scored 95 points in their three wins heading into the bye. Williams is focused on picking up where they left off.
“The flow of it is us being the flow, understanding the flow and us staying in it,” he said. “We gotta be a little bit better at the deep ball and things like that, myself, and the first quarter, we gotta come out and be better. We’ve scored a bunch in the second, third and fourth quarter, but first quarter for sure, we gotta be better.”
D’Andre Swift leads the Bears with 325 yards rushing (3.6 yards per attempt), while DJ Moore has 31 catches for 314 yards and three touchdowns.
The Commanders’ offense ranks tied for first in points per game (31.1) and fourth in the NFL with 384.1 yards per game.
“It’s a similar offense when you watch the offenses,” Bears coach Matt Eberflus said of Daniels and Mariota. “Of course, they’re different type of players in terms of who they are quarterback-wise. Our plan will be our plan and we’ll adjust. We’ll have contingency plans for who’s in there but we’re going to stick with what we’re doing.”
Washington is averaging 165.4 yards per game on the ground led by Brian Robinson Jr., who has gained 396 yards (4.7 yards per carry).
That offense will be tested Sunday. Chicago’s defense ranks fifth in the NFL, allowing just 292 yards per game. The Bears are allowing just 16.8 points per game and have not surrendered over 21 points in 12 consecutive games dating back to last season.
Bears cornerback Kyler Gordon (hamstring) and safety Jaquan Brisker (concussion) are out and defensive lineman Jacob Martin (toe), running back Travis Homer (finger) and offensive lineman Larry Borom (ankle) are questionable.
In addition to Daniels, the Commanders listed only two players — offensive guard Brandon Coleman (concussion) and defensive end Dorance Armstrong (rib) — with a game day designation on the injury report. Coleman is out and Armstrong is questionable.
