The 2024 season was truly spectacular for quarterback Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders. They finished just one victory away from defeating the Philadelphia Eagles and returning to the Super Bowl, falling short of a historic opportunity that seemed well within reach after a remarkable year.
With that context, expectations for the 2025 campaign were understandably high. At the very least, Washington was expected to match the level it had shown the previous season. Instead, Daniels struggled mightily with injuries and was never able to become a consistent, decisive factor for his franchise.
Despite those challenges, the Commanders continued to push forward, searching for answers and hoping for a turnaround. Reality, however, struck hard, and the path back to winning quickly vanished. Matters worsened when Daniels suffered an elbow injury that significantly reduced the team’s chances. Although he was able to return to action, the outcome of the season was already effectively sealed for Washington.
Jayden Daniels will not return for the remainder of the season
In order to avoid further risk, Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn made a firm decision regarding his starting quarterback. Daniels will not take the field for the final three games of the season.
Marcus Mariota will start in his place, as he has done for much of the year due to Daniels’ repeated absences caused by injuries sustained throughout the season.
I don’t want to miss games at all.”…”It’s been a frustrating year, disappointing year. You learn from it and move forward.
Daniels said, and added.
Longevity is a big thing, so you want to be smart with this.
The season is completely over for Washington, which holds a 4-10 record and has nothing left to play for. There is no reason to continue risking the health of its 24-year-old quarterback.
Finishing the year with the backup eliminates the need to overexpose the starter and allows the organization to prioritize the long-term future of its most important asset.
The final three games on the Commanders’ schedule are:
- Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, December 21
- Dallas Cowboys on Thursday, December 25
- Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, January 4
Washington will close out the 2025 season facing exclusively divisional opponents, the same type of matchups that marked the beginning of its campaign, bringing a full-circle conclusion to a year defined by setbacks and unfulfilled expectations.
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