According to JP Finlay of NBC Sports, it’s highly unlikely that Jayden Daniels will play vs Miami Dolphins. This comes after a very hectic 36 hours for Daniels. Jayden Daniels is in the middle of a controversy where he feels disrespected by LSU. However, per Finlay, that controversy has nothing to do with Daniels not playing.

On the flip side, Malik Willis will actually play for the Dolphins vs. Commanders. Jayden Daniels is coming off a very bad sophomore year where he didn’t play well and suffered a lot of injuries as well.

Jayden Daniels’ preseason stats

Given that 2024 was his rookie year, Daniels did manage to log some preseason stats. However, after a stellar rookie season, he was pretty much rested throughout the 2025 season by the Commanders and he is scheduled to play a minimal role this year.

Commanders’ preseason schedule

The Commanders will be on the road quite a lot during the 2026 NFL Preseason. Facing two AFC teams, the Commanders will face the Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens. The only NFC foe will be the Detroit Lions.

“I have been locked in on training camp and that’s been my number one focus. I have a lot of gratitude for my time at LSU and I’m proud of what my teammates and I accomplished there. Obviously there are issues to be worked out between my team and LSU and my hope is that it will get done privately,” Daniels wrote on a post on his Instagram stories. “My sole personal focus is on Commanders’ football. I realize the business of football is unique and I trust this can all be resolved.”

Unfortunately for Daniels, reports of his team’s cease-and-desist letter to his alma mater went viral and put him in a bad light in the eyes of NFL and college football fans. Moreover, it will be something many will keep an eye on, meaning Daniels may not be able to simply sweep it under the rug.

The root of the rift

Daniels’ legal demand to his former school indicates LSU can no longer use the quarterback’s name, image, and likeness (NIL). Once again, NIL is in the eye of the storm in college football.

However, that’s not exactly where the drama stemmed from. Instead, Daniels didn’t appreciate that the Tigers handed DJ Pickett, a sophomore cornerback, the No. 5 jersey, which Daniels wore when he won the Heisman Trophy in 2023, becoming the third Heisman winner in school history (Billy Cannon in 1959 and Joe Burrow in 2019).

No player has worn Burrow’s No. 9 since the historic 2019 college football season, and there’s an argument to be made that Daniels’ number deserved the same honor.

More drama in Baton Rouge

With this latest chapter, yet another dramatic layer is added to Lane Kiffin’s tenure in Baton Rouge, albeit he has yet to make his debut. Kiffin and LSU already have enough on their plate as they pay close attention to Sam Leavitt’s injury updates going into the new season, and a rift with a school legend is far from ideal. Perhaps unknowingly, Kiffin and the school brought an even bigger problem onto themselves.

It remains to be seen whether LSU will strip Pickett of the No. 5 jersey or if the school will double down on its decision, even if it costs them a relationship with an elite alumnus—and potentially leads to more legal troubles. Daniels hopes things can be worked out behind closed doors, but it feels unlikely considering the college and personal brands involved.

Via his legal team, Daniels’ cease-and-desist letter demands LSU stops using the QB’s name, image, and likeness (NIL). Reports also state that Daniels feels “disrespected” that he is not talked about in the same breath as Joe Burrow, another LSU legend.

This all comes from the fact that LSU gave the No. 5 jersey to cornerback DJ Pickett. Daniels used that jersey number at LSU, and this prompted an ill-feeling from Daniels’ side.

Jayden Daniels vs Joe Burrow LSU stats

For Daniels to be saying he should be in the same breath as Burrow is a bit rich. While both won a Heisman Trophy, their legacies are not even close. LSU didn’t win with Jayden Daniels at the helm. They ended the regular season 9-3 and didn’t even qualify to the College Football Playoff.

Meanwhile, Burrow had arguably the best College Football season ever for a quarterback, guided the Tigers to an undefeated 15-0 season while throwing for 5,671 yards, 60 passing touchdowns, just six interceptions on 76.3% completion, and of course, the National Championship title. That’s why Burrow’s No.9 jersey is retired. He brought accolades to him, but also to the program.

Does Daniels have a chance at winning this?

There are two ways of seeing this: first, in actual court. Second, in the eye of the public. In actual court, there is a way that Daniels’ arguments hold, as his contract states LSU was only authorized to use his NIL for 180 days after his final college game. Publicly, this has not been well-received. Daniels’ priority should be bouncing back from a sophomore slump.

However, this all stems from giving the No.5 jersey to another player. That can’t be changed with the cease-and-desist letter. Legally, a university owns its jersey numbers, team uniforms, and intellectual property. Hence, if they decide to not retire the jersey, they can assign it to any player they choose, in this case, DJ Pickett.

“He did injure his triceps, he is going to get surgery,” the head coach said. “It’s always tough to talk about a player missing time, especially a great player like LT. . . . We’ll know more post-surgery on timelines and all that good stuff.”

One of the most impactful left tackles in the NFC will be sidelined for an extended period, which could become a major headache for Jayden Daniels. With a tough schedule ahead, having him back as soon as possible will be crucial, but only if he is at full strength to avoid any setbacks.

How much will the Commanders lose without Tunsil?

The loss of Laremy Tunsil is a massive blow to the Commanders‘ offensive line. In 2025, Tunsil anchored the left side across 14 starts (802 offensive snaps), posting an elite 88.9 PFF pass-blocking grade (ranking 2nd among all qualified tackles) while allowing just 2 sacks and 15 total pressures.

Losing his premier blindside protection severely compromises Jayden Daniels‘ pocket stability, leaving the young quarterback far more vulnerable as he returns from an injury-plagued season and forcing Washington to navigate 2026 without its most reliable pass blocker.

Daniels’ protectors

Following Tunsil’s injury, Dan Quinn confirmed that third-year lineman Brandon Coleman will shift back to left tackle, the position he manned as a rookie in 2024. Coleman’s move opens up left guard for Chris Paul, who secures the starting spot after competing for interior snaps throughout the 2026 training camp.

The rest of Washington’s projected Week 1 starting unit remains intact, featuring veteran Nick Allegretti at center, staple Sam Cosmi holding down right guard, and second-year tackle Josh Conerly Jr. starting at right tackle.

Behind them on the depth chart are Jaylin Lane, Treylon Burks, and Antonio Williams. As the third group of options, the Commanders have Van Jefferson, Dyami Brown, and finally Jacoby Jones.

Dan Quinn has done an excellent job surrounding Daniels with talent in his third year as an NFL player. The Commanders want to establish themselves as legitimate contenders in the NFC East, who will have these wide receivers at their disposal.

Diggs’ great 2025 season in Foxborough

During his single season with the New England Patriots in 2025, the veteran wide receiver delivered solid production, recording 85 receptions for 1,013 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns across 17 regular-season games.

Now joining the Washington Commanders on a one-year deal for the 2026 season, Diggs looks to carry that momentum to his new team, aiming to replicate his 1,000-yard form and serve as a reliable veteran pass-catching threat alongside Terry McLaurin in Washington’s offense.

Daniels relies on his receivers

Jayden Daniels relies heavily on his passing attack to push the offense downfield, showcasing composure in the pocket and a strong ability to process defenses. In a 2025 season where his action was limited to 7 games, Daniels completed 114 of 188 passes (60.6% completion rate) for 1,262 passing yards, 8 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions, posting an 88.1 passer rating as the primary facilitator of Washington’s air game.

Daniels was named the 2024 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year following an outstanding debut campaign. Unfortunately, he couldn’t replicate those jaw-dropping performances in 2025, as nagging injuries repeatedly derailed his sophomore season.

Ahead of his third year, Daniels knows that maintaining his health is the ultimate priority. He will be working under brand-new offensive coordinator David Blough this season, with the hope that a revamped scheme will better protect him and maximize his longevity on the field.

“I love the offense. I love what Blough’s doing,” Jayden Daniels told reporters Wednesday. “I love how he’s creating, designing different things. And we’ll go from there, but for me, personally, it’s just how can I get better as a football player? But the passion didn’t change. It made it more kind of, like, I guess, a miserable feeling not being able to go out there and do what I’ve got to do on a daily basis with having setbacks.”

The highly unpredictable NFC East

In recent days, Bolavip spoke with New York Giants legend Raul Allegre about the state of the division. The two-time Super Bowl champion remarked that the NFC East is completely wide open for all four franchises—and his assessment couldn’t be more accurate.

The Philadelphia Eagles are navigating the departure of several key stars alongside major staff changes this offseason. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys are still adjusting to Brian Schottenheimer’s offensive system while breaking in a new defensive coordinator. To add to the chaos, the Giants have completely altered their trajectory by hiring John Harbaugh as their new head coach.

These shifting dynamics, coupled with the Commanders promoting David Blough to offensive coordinator, set the stage for a highly volatile divisional race. While Philadelphia enters the year as the nominal favorite, no club has a clear, uncontested path to the crown.

Commanders face the loss of a key offensive weapon

While Washington successfully stabilized a cornerstone of their passing game by locking up star wideout Terry McLaurin with a three-year, $97 million extension in 2025, the offense will still look noticeably different this fall.

Deebo Samuel will not be returning to the Commanders for the 2026 season. The front office ultimately opted against offering the versatile playmaker a contract extension this offseason, leaving him as an unrestricted free agent still searching for his next destination.

Adam Schefter reported the signing, and it’s a very good signing for the running back, who saw his snaps decrease heavily on the Buccaneers. Jayden Daniels and White spent two years together. In 2020, White led the Pac-12 in yards per attempt with 10.0. However, Daniels was not as prominent that year.

In 2021, Daniels became the starter of the team, throwing for 2,380 yards on 65.4 completion percentage, along with 10 TDs and 10 INTs. That season, Rachaad White had 1,462 scrimmage yards with 16 total TDs. During their college days together, White was more prominent. Now, the roles have reversed.

How has White fared in the NFL?

In four years in the NFL, White has established himself as a very good dual-threat back. In fact, he’s surpassed the 1,000-scrimmage-yard treshold twice in his career and has never had less than 771 scrimmage yards. However, he lost his starting job on the Buccaneers to the electric Bucky Irving, and hence he needed a change.

The Commanders only had second-year Jacory Croskey-Merritt and veteran Chase Edmonds on their RB depth chart. So for Rachaad White, this is a place where he can actually thrive and earn big-time snaps, instead of getting relegated in the pecking order.

The Commanders need a great running game to function

The Commanders had a 5-12 record last season just one year after going to the NFC Championship Game. There are two main reasons for that. Firstly, Jayden Daniels was injured for plenty of 2025.

Secondly, the Commanders ranked 22nd in total offense, while in 2024, they ranked seventh. That decline will take a huge toll on any team. Now, with hopes of revamping their stock, the Commanders and Daniels hope White can bring a new dynamic to the offense.

Daniels has played twice in Philadelphia. Both times, he lost in the City of Brotherly Love. However, in an interview with Sports Illustrated, said some comments that could be hurtful to his team’s fandom:

“I love Eagles fans. I love Eagles fans. They just embody what Philly brings. To be able to go out there and play against them, it’s kind of just that thing. Their environment is kind of like the closest thing you can get to a college environment.”

Now, Daniels then said that those fans fuel him. However, given that he has lost both trips to Philadelphia, Daniels needs to start getting road wins. This is especially harder to hear by Commanders fans due to the fact that the Eagles fandom mocked the Commanders on their own home turf.

Commanding the East

Eagles fans went to Maryland on December 20 and made a sign that said “Commanding the East, 10-5.” That was the record the Eagles had after winning that game against the Commanders by double digits. Daniels praising the Eagles fans is not a good look.

Washington hasn’t won the NFC East since 2020, when it still ended up with a 7-9 record. In the 2020s, the Commanders have gone to the NFL Playoffs twice. The franchise has struggled to keep success on a regular basis.

Daniels is in the eye of the storm

No one denies Jayden Daniels’ talent. He won a Heisman during his College Football days, he won Offensive Rookie of the Year, and he is seen as a franchise quarterback. However, he also has some doubts regarding his durability. In the end, the best ability is availability, and Daniels lost 10 games due to injuries this season, and when he played, his numbers weren’t better than his backup’s.

Daniels completed 60.6% of his passes for 1,262 yards and eight touchdowns to three interceptions. Mariota had a better completion than Daniels (61.2%), had more yards (1,695), more touchdowns (10), and a very similar passer rating. So, Daniels needs to prove he is the better and that he can stay healthy trhoughout the season.

The slate kicks off at Northwest Stadium, where the Washington Commanders will host the Dallas Cowboys in a head-to-head NFC East showdown. With both teams already eliminated from playoff contention, America’s Team will be led by veteran quarterback Dak Prescott, while the Commanders will turn to Josh Johnson under center following the absences of Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota.

Next up, the spotlight shifts to the NFC North. The Minnesota Vikings will host the Detroit Lions, who are still dreaming of a playoff berth. The home team will lean on Max Brosmer as its primary signal-caller, while Dan Campbell will once again put his trust in Jared Goff to lead Detroit in pursuit of a crucial victory.

The main stage of TNF will be set at Arrowhead Stadium, where the Kansas City Chiefs will host the AFC’s current No. 1 seed, the Denver Broncos. Andy Reid will be forced to fill the void left by Patrick Mahomes and Gardner Minshew, turning to Chris Oladokun under center, while the visitors will look to Bo Nix as their leading figure on the night.

Three starters sidelined by injury

This year’s NFL Christmas slate has lost a significant amount of star power due to a string of unfortunate quarterback injuries. The Kansas City Chiefs will be without Patrick Mahomes, who suffered a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee during a Week 15 matchup against the Chargers; the injury required surgery and has sidelined the three-time MVP for the remainder of the year.

Similarly, the Washington Commanders have officially shut down Jayden Daniels for the season after he reaggravated a dislocated elbow that had plagued him since mid-season.

Lastly, the Minnesota Vikings’ J.J. McCarthy was ruled out specifically for the holiday game after imaging revealed a hairline fracture in his right throwing hand, an injury sustained when he struck a defender’s helmet in a previous game. These absences mean all three Christmas matchups will feature backup signal-callers, shifting the focus from elite quarterback duels to a test of roster depth.

Next weekend’s visit to MetLife Stadium to face the Giants will take place without Daniels on the field, as the head coach himself confirmed to the media. Although there was no structural or bone damage in his elbow, the Commanders’ medical staff recommended holding him out in the short term and reassessing his situation next week.

Now, the question many are asking is whether the QB will actually return to action this season or if, on the contrary, his snaps for the remaining games are already over. Quinn chose to be cautious on the matter.

“As far as what decisions are ahead, we haven’t gone down that road,” the head coach Quinn said, via JP Finlay of NBC 4 Washington. “He’s working really hard to get back with the guys.”

What injury is Daniels dealing with?

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow late in the fourth quarter of the team’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks on November 2, 2025. The injury occurred when Daniels was sacked and landed awkwardly, attempting to brace his fall with his non-throwing arm, which caused the elbow to bend in an unnatural way. Initial reports later confirmed the dislocation, although X-rays came back negative for fractures.

Mariota set to start again in Washington

Marcus Mariota has put together a mixed season with the Commanders, showcasing some flashes of potential alongside struggles with turnovers. So far, he has recorded 1,389 passing yards and thrown 9 touchdowns, but has also been intercepted 7 times. His overall performance is reflected by a 55.2 Quarterback Rating (QBR), indicating a campaign marked by inconsistency.

What’s next for the Commanders?

The Washington Commanders face a challenging upcoming schedule dominated by NFC East rivals. Their next stretch of games includes a road trip to face the Giants, followed by back-to-back home games against the Eagles and the Cowboys. They will conclude this divisional run with a final road contest against the Eagles.

Jayden Daniels finally had a full practice after he was limited on Wednesday. This puts him in firm position to start against the Vikings. Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow in Week 9.

Daniels has missed six games this season. He has completed 62.5% of his passes for 1,184 yards and eight touchdowns with two interceptions. Daniels has a 94.4 passer rating this season in six games played.

Mariota has very similar stats

Mariota has completed 63.2% for 1,359 yards, nine touchdowns and six picks for an 87.1 passer rating. Without the picks, Mariota has put up very similar numbers to the ones Daniels has.

Also, both provide rushing ability but are susceptible to fumbles or a bit of recklessness. In the end, Mariota is a seasoned vet and not as big of a downgrade as some might think. Having said that, of course the Commanders would like to have their second-season quarterback starting games.

The Vikings also have a QB issue

The Vikings have their own world of trouble when it comes to quarterbacks. JJ McCarthy hasn’t been what they have hoped and he is not confirmed to be back this week.

However, the alternative is undrafted rookie year Max Brosmer, who debuted last week and threw four interceptions as his team scored a total of zero points. Hence, it’s a tough out for anyone under center representing Minnesota.