Jayden Daniels Expected To Start Week 5 Wearing Protective Elbow Brace

Overview

• The Commanders plan to have Daniels start against the Giants in Week 5 if he completes a full practice and receives medical clearance while wearing a custom brace to stabilize his left elbow.
• Daniels missed two games after a second dislocation of the same left elbow and the team chose a non-surgical brace-and-rehab path to avoid putting him on injured reserve.
• Coaches are reworking game plans to keep Daniels upright with extra pass protection and a heavier run plan because Stefon Diggs is ruled out and Terry McLaurin’s status is uncertain.
• Washington’s staff avoided a season-ending move to injured reserve so Marcus Mariota could step in earlier and so the club can reassess surgery in the offseason if durability issues persist.
• External doubts about Daniels’ long-term durability have increased scrutiny of the approach and raise the stakes for Washington’s line play and defensive pressure schemes to create turnovers.