Hogs Haven
Washington Post (paywall)
Washington Commanders Coach Dan Quinn announced Wednesday that quarterback Jayden Daniels has been ruled out ahead of Sunday’s road game against the New York Giants. For the seventh time this season, Marcus Mariota will start in his place.
Daniels was knocked out of the Commanders’ loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday after getting blocked on an interception return and landing on his left elbow, which he dislocated against the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 2.
“[There were] no structural setbacks,” Quinn said. “However, through the medical evaluations over the last couple days, including this morning, the doctors advised us we hold him this Sunday.”
Quinn said Daniels will practice this week as a limited participant. Asked whether Daniels will play again this season, the coach said: “Let’s see where we’re at next week. We’re always going to make the best decision for him, for the team.”
The Athletic (paywall)
Situational football — two-minute, four-minute, end-of-game situations, fourth downs (an 87.0 percent conversion rate!) — became Washington’s hallmarks because of Daniels.
Against the Chicago Bears in Week 8, the Commanders were 5 of 15 on third downs and had three failed trips to Chicago’s red zone. But no one will remember that. They’ll remember Daniels scrambling for nearly 13 seconds before throwing a perfect 52-yard Hail Mary to Noah Brown for the win.
Against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 16, the Commanders gave up 14 points in the first eight minutes. However, Daniels’ game-winning touchdown pass to Jamison Crowder in the final six seconds was all that mattered.
And against the Atlanta Falcons the following week, Daniels accounted for all but one yard of a 70-yard overtime touchdown drive, capping it off with a game-winner to tight end Zach Ertz.
But this season, Daniels has been knocked down from superhuman to average. He hasn’t eliminated Washington’s mistakes. He hasn’t masked their shortcomings or swooped in late as its savior with a mind-bending play at the end of regulation.
He’s also been hurt, playing with a rotating cast of receivers, a generally thin roster of playmakers and a defense that has often been a massive liability rather than a safety net.
Last season, he started all 17 games, missing only parts of two. He suffered a broken rib in the first quarter against the Carolina Panthers in Week 7 and came out after the first half against the Dallas Cowboys in the season finale because of what Quinn said at the time was leg soreness.
This season, Daniels has suffered three different injuries — a knee sprain, a low-grade hamstring strain and a dislocated elbow — that have cost him parts of three games and the entirety of six others. After aggravating his elbow in the loss to the Minnesota Vikings, he’ll miss Sunday’s game...
