NFL insider reveals what Jayden Daniels needs to do to play in Week 5 for Commanders

NFL insider reveals what Jayden Daniels needs to do to play in Week 5 for Commanders originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

>The Washington Commanders are without Jayden Daniels for the second straight week in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts. Marcus Mariota is the starting quarterback for another week.

>But the good news is that Daniels is getting close to a return. Week 5 is very much in play for the Commanders quarterback coming off a gruesome-looking left elbow injury.

>While he's trending in the right direction, what will it take for him to play? Jonathan Jones of The Athletic revealed what Daniels will need to do to suit up in Week 5, and it's a fairly simple path to seeing Daniels suit up next weekend.

NFL insider reveals how Jayden Daniels can be cleared to play in Week 5"Sources in Washington believe that if he has a full week of practice next week, that is a positive indication Daniels will be ready to get back behind center after suffering the gruesome injury in Week 2 against the Cowboys," Jones writes.

>Daniels is dealing with a left elbow injury after dislocating it in Week 2. He will likely need surgery, but that'll come in the offseason, as it'd end his 2026 season if he had it now.

>So, with Daniels putting off surgery, he needs to get acclimated to his large brace on his left arm. If he gets familiar with it and doesn't have any real issues playing with it on, then he should be good to go.

>MORE: Marcus Mariota stuns Seahawks as Commanders escape an 0-3 start

>That is, if he can get in a full week of practice. He's been practicing a bit leading up to Week 4, but he's not been a full participant just yet. That might change next week.

>The Commanders might get Daniels back for their Week 5 matchup against the NFC East rival New York Giants, who are dealing with a quarterback injury of their own, with Jaxson Dart out for the season.

>But for Daniels to actually return, he'll need to log a full week of practices and prove that he's able to function at a high enough level while wearing the brace to get the Week 5 start.

>Commanders fans should be tuning in closely to all practice reports next week, as how that stretch of practices goes will likely determine if he's starting in Week 5 or not.

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