In the Bay Area, things appear to be a bit clearer when it comes to the depth chart. The primary backup, if needed, is veteran Mac Jones, while Kurtis Rourke sits further down the pecking order, listed as the emergency quarterback.

For Dan Quinn, the situation changed following Marcus Mariota’s injury. Athan Kaliakmanis moved up to become Daniels’ primary backup, while Colson Yankoff, who typically plays tight end, could serve as the emergency quarterback if needed.

Purdy looks to maintain his MVP-caliber form

Brock Purdy has been absolute money to start the 2026 season, leading the undefeated 49ers to a 5-0 record while putting up major MVP-caliber numbers. Through five games, Purdy has been lethal through the air, throwing for 1,196 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and just 2 interceptions while completing 69% of his passes and sitting near the top of the league with an elite 119.3 passer rating.

Coming off a gritty divisional win over Seattle where he tossed another two scores, Purdy looks to keep that momentum rolling against a vulnerable Commanders defense. With the way he’s been dissecting secondary coverage, extending plays with his feet, and protecting the football, he’s poised to keep the Shanahan offense firing on all cylinders.

Daniels has taken Commanders’ offense to another level

Getting Jayden Daniels back on the field after his injury scare has instantly raised the ceiling for this Washington offense. Daniels didn’t look like he missed a beat in his return game against the Giants, dissecting the defense for 199 passing yards with a sharp 68% completion rate (17-of-25).

But the real game-changer was his elite dual-threat dynamic—he tore up the ground game with 103 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, including a electric 38-yard house call that completely shifted the energy on the sideline.

Bringing total dual-threat chaos, zero turnovers, and a pristine 91.9 passer rating to the table, Daniels proved that when he’s under center, this unit goes from predictable to nearly impossible to slow down.

Key takeaways

• Athan Kaliakmanis became Washington’s primary backup quarterback following an injury to Marcus Mariota.
• Brock Purdy led San Francisco to a 5-0 start with 1,196 passing yards.
• Jayden Daniels posted 199 passing yards and 103 rushing yards in his return.

“Ultimately, like, it’s on me,” Daniels told reporters on Thursday. “At the end of the day, I know [coach Dan Quinn] is getting a lot of slack for it, whatever, you know, but regardless of what happens, I’m the person on the field that’s supposed to calm everything, control everything, and I failed to the standard I hold myself to and the standard in this organization.

“So it’s just something for me to move on. I’m not saying I’m proud of it or anything. Obviously, looking back, like, it could have resulted in a loss, we tied, but it was a fail in my in my eyes and, you know, I know I’m better in that. I hold myself to a higher standard than that. So, moving forward, I’ll grow from and learn from it. And it’ll never happen again,” Daniels concluded.

Commanders failed on multiple levels

While it all ended in a tie, there was a point in that game where the Commanders led the Giants by two scores. The fact that the Giants forced an OT was a good enough reason for critics to pound on the Commanders. The OT clock management debacle was the icing on the cake.

Daniels is right, though. It’s on him to be aware of the clock, the field position, the timeouts available —if any— and how to proceed. He should’ve just spiked the ball and leave time for the field goal unit. Instead, he ran with the ball, took a long time to get up, and then wasted all remaining time before being able to snap it.

Dan Quinn is arguably the lesser to blame

Daniels is undoubtedly the one with the most blame. However, it’s head coach Dan Quinn the one getting stomped on by fans and media. But in fact, Quinn is not even the second guy on the ‘guilty list‘. That should be the offensive coordinator and first-year playcaller, David Blough.

After all, is Blough the one who is communicating with Daniels directly to the headset. Yes, Quinn does have some responsibility in the fact that he is the one who appointed Blough, the veteran, and a good head coach has a sufficiently-disciplined team to avoid this. However, out of the three parts, he is getting the most critics, and has the less responsibility.

Key takeaways

• Jayden Daniels took full personal responsibility for Washington’s Week 5 clock management failure.
• The Washington Commanders blew a two-score lead against the New York Giants before tying.
• Critics targeted head coach Dan Quinn despite quarterback Jayden Daniels holding primary fault.

Speaking on the latest episode of “The Edge with Micah Parsons,” the former Dallas Cowboys linebacker criticized Daniels for failing to manage the clock during Washington’s final offensive possession.

“Jayden Daniels probably cost my man Dan Quinn his job, to be honest with you. To be honest with you. And, like, I’m a big Jayden Daniels fan. But the reality is, he probably cost a lot of people their jobs this past weekend,” Parsons said.

How Daniels’ final play unfolded

The Commanders had possession at the Giants’ 24-yard line with 12 seconds remaining in the 10-minute overtime period. With neither team having a timeout, Washington had an opportunity to stop the clock and attempt a potential game-winning field goal.

However, Daniels attempted to escape the pocket before taking a sack. As the quarterback got back to his feet, the remaining seconds expired, preventing Washington from attempting the kick.

Parsons expressed frustration with Daniels‘ decision-making, particularly given his experience in high-pressure situations. “Respectfully, we get coached so much on these situations that, like, I’m a defensive player, and this shit’s programmed to me. I know what to do in those situations. There’s no way I’m taking a sack with 14 seconds left and no timeouts,” Parsons said.

“Mind you, it’d be different if Jayden Daniels was a rookie. This is your third year. This your third year. You’ve been to the NFC Championship game. You’ve been in big moments before. And to me, even after a sack, you’re casually getting up.”

Daniels’ mixed return

Sunday marked Daniels’ first NFL game back after missing two contests due to a dislocated left elbow suffered in a Week 2 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He finished 17 of 25 passing for 199 yards and added nine carries for 103 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.

His 26-yard touchdown run and subsequent two-point conversion pass to receiver Terry McLaurin put Washington ahead 27-13 early in the fourth quarter before the Giants rallied to tie the game.

Key takeaways

• Micah Parsons stated that Jayden Daniels probably cost Dan Quinn his job.
• A sack on Jayden Daniels prevented Washington from attempting a winning field goal.
• 103 rushing yards and two touchdowns were recorded by Jayden Daniels in Week 5.

Daniels was asked about his awareness of the team’s timeout situation and his overall clock management, but he said very little. “Just gotta be better,” Daniels said. “Just gotta be better,” taking into account that there was poor clock management on his part.

The Commanders had the ball at the Giants’ 24-yard line with 12 seconds remaining in the 10-minute overtime period. Neither the Giants nor the Commanders had a timeout, and it seemed obvious that the Commanders could go for the win if QB Jayden Daniels either spiked the ball or threw it out of bounds.

Daniels’ failed final play

However, Daniels tried to escape from the pocket, and he ended up getting sacked on the play. As he picked himself up, the clock ran down to 0:00, and the Commanders had blown their opportunity to kick the winning field goal.

As the game ended, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn slammed his headset to the ground in an explosion of anger. He did not blame his quarterback when he met the media after the game, saying it was up to him to make the play options known to the players on the field.

Giants’ comeback

The Commanders saw the Giants come back from a 27-13 deficit to force overtime after Big Blue missed a long field goal that would have won it. In overtime, the Giants were driving for what appeared to be a game-winning score via field goal or TD, but Skattebo fumbled on his 15th touch of the game.

The Giants, who thought they were on the verge of defeat, actually celebrated Daniels’ gaffe. And with good reason—the Commanders had everything set to win it if Daniels or even Quinn had presented a better execution to close out the NFL game.

Key takeaways

• A 27-27 tie against the New York Giants left the Washington Commanders at 1-3-1.
• Jayden Daniels was sacked on the final overtime play as the clock expired.
• Dan Quinn slammed his headset and declined to blame Jayden Daniels postgame.

“A lot of good things,” Carter said when anticipating Sunday’s game at Northwestern Stadium, via NJ Advance Media. “A lot of good things for us — and bad things for him.”

While Carter is confident in what he and his teammates can bring to the field, he also acknowledges that Daniels is one of the best quarterbacks in the league and that stopping him will be no easy task.

“If he’s feeling like himself, obviously he’s going to be a threat,” Carter also added. “He can hurt you with his arm and legs. But it’s going to be interesting to see how he handles playing with that elbow. Whenever we get close to him, we’re going to make it an emphasis to get hands on him, make him feel us, put him on the ground.

“They’re probably just going to scheme to get it out quick, keep him out of harm’s way. Which is going to be hard, because given how he plays, he wants to create plays, extend plays. So that’s going to be tough with his injury. We’ll see how it works.”

Carter is still looking to find his best form

In the early stretch of this 2026 season, Abdul Carter has posted around 9 tackles, 1 sack, and 11 pressures off the edge through his snap count with the Giants. While his underlying rush metrics show promise—ranking inside the top 10 in overall PFF pass-rush grade—he’s still searching for that consistent game-wrecking rhythm and trying to convert those close disruptions into raw, back-to-back sack numbers week in and week out.

Daniels is ready to return

Jayden Daniels gave Washington a quick scare early in the 2026 season when he suffered a dislocated left elbow (his non-throwing arm) during their Week 2 clash against the Dallas Cowboys in mid-September. Luckily, it wasn’t a long-term setback—he avoided injured reserve and only missed two weeks of action, sitting out games against the Seattle Seahawks and Indianapolis Colts.

After that brief two-game pause on the sidelines, he got the green light to head back out on the field for Week 5 rocking a protective sleeve on his elbow.

Key takeaways

• Jayden Daniels returns for the Washington Commanders against the New York Giants.
• Abdul Carter posted 9 tackles, 1 sack, and 11 pressures in the early 2026 season.
• Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Daniels missed Washington’s previous two games after suffering a dislocated elbow during the Week 2 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The injury affected his non-throwing arm, but the quarterback has worked his way back and completed a full week of practice, putting him in position to return against New York.

The Commanders initially took a cautious approach to Daniels’ recovery, ruling him out for the Week 4 game against the Indianapolis Colts in London despite signs of progress. He practiced while wearing a protective brace on his left arm, and Washington ultimately decided to give him additional time rather than risk bringing him back too soon. Now, with Quinn confirming his return, Daniels will look to help the team turn its season around.

Who is out for Commanders vs Giants?

Jayden Daniels’ return is particularly important for Washington given the uncertainty surrounding several other offensive players. The Commanders will be without wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who has been ruled out of Sunday’s game because of a hamstring injury. His absence leaves Washington without one of its key receiving options for a divisional matchup against the Giants.

Terry McLaurin, meanwhile, remains a player to watch. The wide receiver has also been dealing with a hamstring injury and missed the Week 4 matchup against Indianapolis. After missing practice earlier in the week, McLaurin returned to the field on Friday, with Quinn indicating that the veteran looked good during the session. His status remained uncertain pending the team’s final designation, leaving open the possibility that he could be a game-time decision.

With Daniels back under center but Diggs unavailable, McLaurin’s potential return could be crucial to Washington’s passing attack. The Commanders will want to avoid rushing the receiver back before he is ready, especially given the nature of his injury. His progress on Friday offered some encouragement, but the team’s final decision will determine whether Daniels has another key weapon available against a Giants team that enters the contest with a 3-1 record.

Key takeaways

• Jayden Daniels was cleared to start against the Giants after missing two games with a dislocated elbow.
• Stefon Diggs was ruled out of Sunday’s game due to a hamstring injury.
• Terry McLaurin returned to practice on Friday after dealing with a hamstring injury.

The injury update on Mariota isn’t encouraging, with Molly McGrath of ESPN reporting that the 32-year-old aggravated his MCL injury. The veteran quarterback will have tests but is expected to miss some time.

While this is a huge blow for head coach Dann Quinn, there’s hope that Daniels, who suffered a dislocated left elbow in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys, returns in Week 5 against the Giants.

Injuries in the Commanders QB room

Mariota was doing just fine. In fact, he led Washington to an unexpected win over the reigning Super Bowl champions Seattle Seahawks before his injury against the Colts.

Having Daniels back next week would come just in time for the Commanders, who need to bounce back after their trip to England. Even though Kaliakmanis showed flashes of his potential and came up with a couple of great plays (including a 47-yard passing touchdown to Treylon Burks), he also faced some challenges in his NFL debut, with Washington losing 13-30.

Facing a division rival that is above them in the NFC East standings, the Commanders will prefer to avoid rookie mistakes in Week 5. With Daniels, the team will probably host the Giants with more confidence.

NFC East standings after Week 4

The Week 5 showdown will give the Commanders a chance to reduce the gap with the Giants, who finished Week 4 atop the NFC East thanks to their win over the Arizona Cardinals and the Philadelphia Eagles’ loss to the Los Angeles Rams:

1. NY Giants (3-1)
2. Eagles (2-2)
3. Cowboys (2-2)
4. Commanders (1-3)

Key takeaways

• An aggravated MCL injury will cause Marcus Mariota to miss time.
• A 47-yard touchdown pass to Treylon Burks highlighted Athan Kaliakmanis’s debut.
• Week 5 against the Giants could see Jayden Daniels return from injury.

Although Daniels practiced on a limited basis this week and traveled with the rest of his teammates to London, the coaching staff ultimately ruled him out. Once again, veteran Marcus Mariota will take the reins and start at quarterback.

The primary backup for this game against the Colts will be rookie Athan Kaliakmanis, just as he was against the Seattle Seahawks. Meanwhile, Daniels continues to recover from the injury to his non-throwing arm.

When could Daniels return?

Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys when he landed awkwardly after getting knocked down. Luckily for Washington, tests showed no fractures or major ligament damage, and he dodged surgery or an IR stint altogether.

He already got back to practice this week in a limited role while sporting a protective brace on his non-throwing arm. Dan Quinn expects him to have a full week of practice next week, putting him right on track for a potential Week 5 return against the New York Giants.

Establishing themselves in the NFC East

Sitting at a 1-2 record after getting back on track with a tight win against Seattle, the Commanders know that climbing back into the NFC East race means capitalizing on their upcoming slate. After heading to London in Week 4, their schedule starting from Week 5 features a crucial mix of division rivalry and top-tier road tests:

• Week 5 (Oct 11): vs New York Giants (Northwest Stadium, Landover)
• Week 6 (Oct 19 – MNF): at San Francisco 49ers (Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara)
• Week 7: BYE WEEK
• Week 8 (Nov 1 – SNF): vs Philadelphia Eagles (Northwest Stadium, Landover)
• Week 9 (Nov 8): vs Los Angeles Rams (Northwest Stadium, Landover)

If Dan Quinn‘s squad can protect home field against the Giants and Eagles in this stretch, they’ll turn the NFC East into an absolute dogfight before November even hits.

Key takeaways

• Jayden Daniels was ruled out for the London game due to an elbow injury.
• Marcus Mariota will start at quarterback for the Washington Commanders against Indianapolis.
• Washington hopes for a potential Week 5 return against the New York Giants.

Daniels suffered the injury on the final play of the first half against Dallas. The incident immediately raised concerns about the severity of the damage, as the quarterback’s arm appeared to bend awkwardly before he was taken to the locker room. Initial fears suggested that Daniels could potentially miss the remainder of the season.

However, Washington has received encouraging news regarding its starting quarterback. After additional imaging and consultations with specialists, Daniels was not placed on injured reserve, leaving open the possibility of a quicker return. For now, the Commanders will have to rely on Marcus Mariota while their young quarterback continues his recovery.

When will Jayden Daniels return?

The positive news for Washington is that Jayden Daniels will not be placed on injured reserve and is now considered week-to-week. That means the quarterback will not automatically be required to miss at least four games, giving the Commanders hope that he could return sooner than initially expected.

The decision not to place Daniels on injured reserve came after doctors evaluated his elbow injury and consulted multiple specialists. Although there is no confirmed return date, both Daniels and the Commanders are reportedly aiming for him to return as soon as possible. His recovery will ultimately determine when he can resume playing.

For now, Daniels will miss the game against Seattle as Washington continues to monitor his progress. The injury initially appeared to be a potential season-ending setback, but the latest update has significantly improved the outlook for the Commanders. If his recovery progresses as hoped, Washington could have its starting quarterback back before the team initially feared.

Who is Commanders starting QB vs Seahawks?

Marcus Mariota will be the starting quarterback for the Washington Commanders against the Seattle Seahawks. In Dallas, the veteran took over in the second half throwing for 111 yards and one touchdown.

Key takeaways

• Jayden Daniels is out against Seahawks due to dislocated left elbow suffered against Cowboys.
• Commanders quarterback will avoid injured reserve and is currently evaluated as week-to-week.
• Marcus Mariota will start at quarterback for Washington in Daniels’ absence.

The Commanders’ depth chart took a hit following Daniels’ injury, which appears to have avoided the worst-case scenario. For this game, the primary backup behind Mariota will be rookie Athan Kaliakmanis.

Things appear to be much clearer for the Seahawks, especially with Darnold’s return. The primary alternative at the position is Drew Lock, who played a significant role in Weeks 1 and 2, while Jalen Milroe sits further down the QB room.

Daniels’ status is week-to-week

It was a scary moment for Washington during their Week 2 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys when Jayden Daniels went down with a dislocated left elbow right before halftime while trying to brace his fall. Fans were bracing for the worst—especially given his past elbow troubles—but the latest medical evaluations brought some relief, ruling out IR for now.

He is currently considered week-to-week, and while surgery isn’t immediately on the table as he attempts a quick return, medical experts suggest a potential procedure at the end of the season might still be needed to fix ligament joint laxity once and for all.

Darnold’s highly anticipated return

The Seahawks held their breath in the season opener against the New England Patriots when Sam Darnold went down after taking a heavy sack on the very first drive. What was initially feared to be a serious hip or leg issue turned out to be a weird soft-tissue glute injury, which kept him sidelined for Week 2 against Arizona.

Fortunately for Seattle, Drew Lock stepped in and kept the offense humming, leading his team to a 2-0 record and keeping them among the top contenders in the NFC.

Key takeaways

• Marcus Mariota will start for Washington, while Sam Darnold returns as Seattle’s primary quarterback.
• Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis will serve as the Commanders’ primary backup quarterback behind Mariota.
• Jayden Daniels is considered week-to-week after suffering a dislocated left elbow against Dallas.

The Commanders quarterback suffered the injury on the final play of the first half in Washington’s 37-20 loss to Dallas. Daniels’ arm was placed in an air cast as he was taken from the field, and the way the elbow appeared to bend immediately raised fears that the injury could end his season. Initial X-rays ruled out a fracture, but additional imaging and specialist evaluations were needed to determine the severity of the damage.

Now, Adam Schefter has delivered the kind of update Washington was hoping to receive after several days of uncertainty. Schefter reported that Daniels will not be placed on injured reserve, meaning the Commanders are not currently expecting an extended absence that would automatically keep their quarterback out for at least four games.

Jayden Daniels avoids injured reserve in huge break for Washington

Schefter’s report provided the clearest indication yet that the situation is considerably more positive for Jayden Daniels and the Commanders than it appeared on Sunday night.

“Commanders QB Jayden Daniels will not be placed on injured reserve, sources confirmed to Ian Rapoport and me. After imaging on his dislocated left elbow was evaluated and multiple specialists were consulted, the consensus is that Daniels now will be considered week-to-week. Both Daniels and the Commanders say they are aiming for him to return as soon as possible.”

That is a major break for the Commanders. Placing Daniels on injured reserve would have guaranteed that he missed at least four games, while Washington can now monitor his recovery and potentially bring him back sooner if he is medically cleared.

Who is Commanders backup QB?

There is still no specific return date for Jayden Daniels, and the Washington Commanders will have to rely on Marcus Mariota while their young quarterback recovers.

However, the difference between fearing a season-ending injury when Daniels left the Cowboys game and now having him classified as week-to-week is enormous. For the Commanders, this update preserves the possibility of getting their starting quarterback back much earlier than initially feared.

Key takeaways

• Jayden Daniels is week-to-week after suffering a dislocated left elbow.
• Washington will not place their starting quarterback on injured reserve.
• The team will rely on Marcus Mariota while their starter recovers.