Jayden Daniels will be back in the lineup Sunday against the Giants, but there are reportedly medical concerns about reinjury to the Commanders quarterback.
“There are doctors around the NFL who believe it’s a matter of when, not if, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels hurts his left elbow again,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday, citing sources.
Daniels has missed Washington’s past two games after suffering a dislocated left elbow for the second time in his career in a Week 2 loss to the Cowboys.
After visiting specialists in Los Angeles and New York, the 25-year-old Daniels was cleared to resume playing with a brace protecting the elbow.
But the ESPN report stated “there are doctors around the league who, despite not having examined Daniels, maintain that a player who dislocates his elbow twice — as Daniels has over the past 11 months — is at a higher risk of suffering another dislocation,” citing sources.
Daniels participated fully in practice all week and offensive coordinator David Blough declared him “a full go” on Thursday. He will be backed up against the Giants by rookie Athan Kaliakmanis with veteran Marcus Mariota unavailable due to a knee injury.
“I’m going to embrace the brace,” Daniels said earlier this week. “Just trying to get used to it, it’s kind of part of me now.
“For the time being, as long as I’m on that field. Just getting used to it, trying to find the different ways where it’s most comfortable and I’m not really just thinking about it, I’m out there playing.”
Blough added that the Washington gameplan would not be affected this week, and that Daniels is able to take snaps and make hand-offs without issue while wearing the brace.
Wide receiver Stefon Diggs (hamstring) has also been ruled out for the Commanders, while Terry McLaurin (hamstring) is listed as questionable.
