Jayden Daniels injury update: Commanders QB medically cleared to participate in full

Washington head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Wednesday that franchise signal-caller Jayden Daniels has been given the green light to fully return to practice. In his absence, veteran Marcus Mariota went 1-1 as the starter, guiding a win over the Las Vegas Raiders before falling short against the Atlanta Falcons last weekend.

Daniels has been sidelined with a knee sprain picked up in Week 2's defeat to the Green Bay Packers. With the Philadelphia Eagles cruising at 4-0 and still showing room to grow, the Commanders will be eager to have their young quarterback back under center to keep pace in the division.

Jayden Daniels got in a limited session ahead of Washington’s Week 3 matchup with the Raiders, but the Commanders ultimately kept him sidelined. VeteranMarcus Mariota stepped in and delivered a 41-24 victory, tossing one touchdown and adding another with his legs. The following week, leading into a clash with the Falcons, Daniels was again restricted in midweek practices before sitting out Friday. That opened the door for Mariota to start once more, where he threw two scores in a narrow 34-27 defeat.

While being cleared for full practice is a major stride forward, head coach Dan Quinn noted that there are still boxes for Daniels to check before determining if he’ll suit up in Week 5 against the Chargers.

So far this year, Daniels has thrown for 433 yards and three touchdowns. The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year was electric in 2024, piling up 3,568 passing yards, 891 rushing yards, and 31 total scores. He also powered the Commanders all the way to the NFC Championship Game, where he added 822 yards through the air, 135 on the ground, and six touchdowns during that postseason charge.

The Chargers and Commanders are set to square off in Week 5 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, with kickoff scheduled for Sunday, October 5, at 4:25 pm ET / 1:25 pm PT.

Just a week later, the national spotlight will shine on Washington once again, as the Commanders host the Chicago Bears under the primetime glare of Monday Night Football at Northwest Stadium. Given the drama these two teams produced in last year’s showdown, it’s no shock the league has handed this matchup another marquee slot.