Jayden Daniels injury update as Commanders QB readies for return

This reinforcement could not have come soon enough.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels looked to be a full participant in practice on Wednesday, Oct. 7. It marked the first time he wasn’t a limited participant or held out of practice since suffering his gruesome dislocated elbow injury in Week 2.

The 2026 season has been brutal for injuries to NFL quarterbacks, and few teams have more first-hand experience on that front than the Commanders.

Daniels missed the second half of Washington’s second game after his elbow injury, then all of Week 3 and Week 4. Against the Colts in Week 4, the Commanders lost backup quarterback Marcus Mariota in his second start of the season. He sustained a sprained MCL on Washington’s second possession.

Rookie seventh-rounder Athan Kaliakmanis filled in for Mariota for the remainder of Week 4, but it appears as though he’ll have to wait to make his first career start.

Daniels appears as though he’s readying to return for his third start of the season in Week 5. Here’s what we know:

De’Zhaun Stribling, SF (ankle)

De’Zhaun Stribling of the San Francisco 49ers is attended to by trainers after an injury in the second quarter of the NFL football game against Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.

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De’Zhaun Stribling, SF (ankle)

De’Zhaun Stribling of the San Francisco 49ers is attended to by trainers after an injury in the second quarter of the NFL football game against Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 11, 2026, in Melbourne, Australia.

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Tua Tagovailoa, ATL (oblique)

Tua Tagovailoa of the Atlanta Falcons runs through drills during OTA’s at IBM Performance Field on May 27, 2026, in Flowery Branch, Georgia.

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A.J. Brown, NE (ankle) – injured reserve

A.J. Brown of the New England Patriots reacts after being injured in a play against the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter in the game at Lumen Field on September 09, 2026 in Seattle, Washington.

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Sam Darnold, SEA (hip)

New England Patriots defensive end Dre’Mont Jones sacks Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold during the first quarter at Lumen Field.

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Brock Bowers, LV (knee)

Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders waves to fans after warming up before a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at Allegiant Stadium on August 13, 2026, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

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Treveyon Henderson, NE (ankle)

Treveyon Henderson of the New England Patriots looks on prior to Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium on February 08, 2026, in Santa Clara, California.

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Rome Odunze, CHI (calf)

Rome Odunze of the Chicago Bears catches a pass during Chicago Bears Training Camp at Halas Hall on July 29, 2026, in Lake Forest, Illinois.

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Alvin Kamara, NO (knee)

Alvin Kamara of the New Orleans Saints on the sidelines before a preseason game between the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on August 22, 2026, in Inglewood, California.

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Zach Charbonnet, SEA (knee) – PUP list

Zach Charbonnet of the Seattle Seahawks runs with the ball against by Deommodore Lenoir of the San Francisco 49ers during the third quarter of a game at Levi’s Stadium on January 03, 2026, in Santa Clara, California.

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Isiah Pacheco, DET (back) – Injured reserve

Isiah Pacheco of the Detroit Lions during Detroit Lions Training Camp at Detroit Lions Meijer Performance Center on July 29, 2026, in Allen Park, Michigan.

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Jordyn Tyson, NO (hamstring) – Injured reserve

Jordyn Tyson of the New Orleans Saints participates in drills during training camp at Ochsner Sports Performance Center on July 30, 2026, in Metairie, Louisiana.

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Tank Dell, HOU (knee) – Injured reserve

Tank Dell of the Houston Texans runs to the practice facility during Houston Texans training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center on August 01, 2026, in Houston, Texas.

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Christian Kirk, SF (calf) – Injured reserve

Christian Kirk of the Jacksonville Jaguars is introduced against the San Francisco 49ers during the game at EverBank Field on November 12, 2023, in Jacksonville, Florida.

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Ricky Pearsall, SF (knee) – Out for season

Ricky Pearsall of the San Francisco 49ers works out during training camp practice at SAP Performance Facility on July 27, 2026, in Santa Clara, California.

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Chris Brazzell, CAR (knee) – Out for season

Chris Brazzell II of the Carolina Panthers warms up during the Carolina Panthers Training Camp at Carolina Panthers Practice Fields on July 23, 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina.

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Jayden Higgins, HOU (knee) – Out for season

Jayden Higgins of the Houston Texans catches a pass for a touchdown during the second quarter of the game against the Indianapolis Colts at NRG Stadium on January 04, 2026, in Houston, Texas.

ESPN reporter John Keim posted a video of Daniels throwing at practice on Oct. 7. Keim wrote in the social media post’s caption that Daniels is “expected to be a full participant in practice.”

Later in the practice session, Keim posted another video showing Daniels taking a simulated snap from a coach and pitching the ball to running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt.

The ESPN reporter wrote that Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Daniels would be a full participant in practice during the week.

That’s a step up from last week for Daniels. In Week 4, the former No. 2 overall pick traveled with his team to London last week and was a limited participant in practice every day leading up to the game. He was eventually ruled out and spent the game on the sideline with his teammates.

Daniels suffered his most recent elbow injury on the final play before halftime in the Commanders’ Week 2 loss to the Cowboys. The third-year quarterback got his legs tangled up with his offensive line after taking a snap and stuck out his left arm to brace his fall. Daniels’ elbow seemingly gave out as his arm bent the wrong way.

Daniels’ dislocated left elbow injury was a repeat of the ailment that ultimately ended his season early last year. He missed three games after sustaining the original injury in Week 9 last year, then he re-injured it when he returned in Week 14 and missed the rest of the season.

• Jayden Daniels (questionable – elbow)

• Marcus Mariota (doubtful – MCL sprain)

• Athan Kaliakmanis

Jayden Daniels (questionable – elbow)

Marcus Mariota (doubtful – MCL sprain)

Washington’s quarterbacks room is banged up headed into Week 5. Daniels’ status as a full participant in practice on Oct. 7 suggests he’ll be good to go for the game against the Giants on Sunday, Oct. 11. He may be operating in a limited capacity during the game given the injury and brace he’s wearing on his left elbow.

Mariota is unlikely to be active for Week 5, though multiple reports on Oct. 7 indicated that he will avoid an IR stint. The veteran could be back within two to three weeks, and the Commanders have their bye in Week 7.

Kaliakmanis made his NFL debut in London last week after Mariota’s injury. The seventh-round rookie went 15 for 33 on pass attempts (45.5% completion rate) for 186 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

The Commanders also have Notre Dame product Sam Hartman on their practice squad for a third year in a row. NFL Media insider Mike Garafolo reported on Oct. 7 that more help could be on the way as well after Washington worked out Jack Plummer.