Commanders Likely To Start Jayden Daniels In Week 5 Wearing Protective Brace

Overview

• Daniels suffered a second dislocation of his left elbow within about 10 months and specialists found no fracture or major ligament damage, leading the club to choose a brace-and-rehab plan rather than immediate surgery or injured reserve.
• The Commanders expect Daniels to be available for the Week 5 game against the New York Giants but his start hinges on completing a full practice and getting medical clearance from team staff.
• Washington plans to have Daniels wear a protective brace on game day and coaches and linemen have stressed game plans that prioritize keeping him upright and limiting heavy contact.
• An unnamed NFL executive warned about Daniels’ long-term durability and urged more rushing and max-protection schemes, and the Commanders have signaled they may defer any corrective surgery until the offseason if he continues to play.
• The move answers short-term urgency for a 1-3 team that briefly stabilized with Marcus Mariota’s Week 3 win while also creating a risk-management dilemma about exposing a mobile young quarterback to more hits over the rest of the season.