The Commanders are getting something they haven’t had all season with a shocking return in Week 14 vs Vikings
Jayden Daniels is back and playing with a healthy starting offense for the first time this season.
The Washington Commanders are 3-9, but you wouldn’t be able to tell after the effort last week in a tough overtime loss against the Denver Broncos.
There are only five more games left in the season, and now they hit the road for the last non-divisional game of the season against the Minnesota Vikings. Injuries have been a major factor this year, especially with key players, and they’re finally getting the starting offense on the field for the first time this season.
Terry McLaurin made his return, but we were still awaiting Jayden Daniels, who is officially back this week, meaning the starting offense will play for the first time this season.
Jayden Daniels will play Sunday vs the Vikings
Daniels has been out since he dislocated his elbow four weeks ago against the Seattle Seahawks, and we honestly didn’t expect him back again this year. He miraculously avoided any serious injuries, and the feeling has been that he would play once he recovered and was cleared for contact, which happened this week as head coach Dan Quinn announced.
“I thought Jayden threw a great week of practice,” Quinn said. “He was full Thursday, full today, he’s been cleared to play, and he will start Sunday. He really threw a great week, you guys. And like the other players, when you’re injured, there’s a lot of work that has to go back into it. I thought Jayden and the medical team, like, put in many hours behind the scenes to get ready, from treatment to rehab to a specific brace, to all of it.”
Jayden Daniels will play with the whole starting offense for the first time this season
Quinn was also asked why Daniels playing in the final five games of the season was important to not only Daniels, but the rest of the team as well. These last few games are critical for Daniels’ development, but also to see the team as a whole for the first time. Daniels hasn’t played with McLaurin and Noah Brown since Week 2, and this is the first game playing with the whole starting offensive line, as well as with Sam Cosmi back.
“It’s really important for him, for his teammates, for, you know, for any of the guys, honestly,” Quinn added. “You know, looking into it, with five games, that’s like 30% of our season. There’s a lot, and all of these matter. And you know, as he’s developing, there are certain things he’s working on to go ahead and be as competitive as hell. And you know, like taking care of things that he can, and so it’s really important.”