The Washington Commanders have already dealt with plenty of adversity this season. Commanders QB Jayden Daniels suffered another gruesome injury to his left elbow against the Cowboys in Week 2. Washington's latest update on Daniels makes the situation look a lot better than fans expected.
Commanders general manager Adam Peters gave a positive injury update on Daniels on Friday. He explained that Washington is optimistic that Daniels will be able to return soon after visiting multiple specialists. Peters also confirmed that the Commanders have not discussed putting Daniels on injured reserve while he recovers.
“As of right now surgery is not on the table and we have not discussed IR,” Peters said on The Junkies per JP Finlay.
Daniels dislocated his left elbow, the same one he injured in the past, in Week 2 against the Cowboys. Not only was it a crushing blow to the Commanders' 2026 season, but it put Daniels' career outlook into jeopardy. That's what makes this optimistic report so surprising, especially the fact that he may not go on injured reserve.
Remember, NFL players can come off injured reserve after just four weeks. If Daniels is not headed to IR, that suggests Washington believes he could return in under four weeks.
Daniels is expected to be back at the team facility on Friday, per ESPN's John Keim. He has wrapped up his series of appointments with various specialists. Now Daniels can shift his focus into rehab and recovery while he attempts to make a miraculous return.
In the meantime, Washington will rely on backup Marcus Mariota to keep the team moving in the right direction.
The Commanders are 0-2 on the season, so getting at least one win could help a ton. Unfortunately, they face an incredibly tough opponent in Week 3.
Next up for the Commanders is a home game against the Seahawks. This NFC matchup kicks off at 1 p.m. ET on Sept. 27 from Northwest Stadium.