Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels sat out practice on Wednesday and won’t play until head coach Dan Quinn decides the rookie No. 2 pick is not impacted by injured ribs.
Marcus Mariota took Daniels’ spot and the starter’s reps Wednesday in preparation for a possible start Sunday against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears (4-2).
Quinn said there is no added motivation for Daniels to take the field against Williams, who was the top pick in the 2024 draft in April.
“He’ll get the treatment today and he’ll continue to progress today and tomorrow,” Quinn said Wednesday. “I’ll update you guys after Friday’s practice, and we’ll go from there.
“You guys have all been around Jayden. Anybody, anywhere, anytime — is really the mindset for him. At his core, one of the things I admire about him is readiness, ready to go prove it.”
Daniels was hurt on the first offensive play for the Commanders in a 40-7 win over the Panthers Sunday. The victory improved Washington’s record to 5-2.
Daniels injured his ribs at the end of a 46-yard run on the team’s first snap. He stayed in the game and the drive ended in a field goal before Mariota relieved him.
Daniels has six touchdown passes and four rushing TDs this season, leading the league with a 75.6 completion percentage and is sixth in the NFL in passer rating at 107.0. Mariota is 19 of 26 (73.1 percent) for 203 yards and two touchdowns.
Quinn said Daniels is “close” to being ready to practice. How he practices and Quinn’s inexact measure of whether Daniels is “himself, fully turnt up” dictates what will happen from there.
“He’s close to there, the practice field is the next step of that,” Quinn said. “I want to make sure he can be, fully express himself and do all the things he does that make him so unique and special. That’s what we’ll do, not much different than any other player.”
