Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels insists he’s fine. After Washington lost its second game in four days on Thursday night, Daniels spoke to the media after the game about his health.
“I feel good,” Daniels said. “I mean, it’s football at the end of the day. Physicality is required in this game, so feel good, just a tough loss.”
When Daniels was pressed if he was limited by the rib injury he suffered in a Week 7 win over the Carolina Panthers, he answered it like a pro.
“Yeah, for sure,” Daniels said when asked if he could do everything he needed.
“I mean, if I wasn’t, I wouldn’t be on the field right now. I’m not the only player that’s fine stuff. You know, obviously, no player at this point is 100% healthy, and it was a short turnaround, so kudos to the guys that battled back to get their bodies back right for the short game.”
Head coach Dan Quinn also insisted the rib injury wasn’t impacting Daniels now.
“Early on, he was,” Quinn said when asked if the injury impacted Daniels’ play. “Probably the first game back, and then it started trending better. But I think it’s fair to say the first game after Carolina, not sure who that was against. And then that’s an injury that gets better.”
It’s admirable that Daniels isn’t blaming the injury for his recent struggles. But it’s important to note that Daniels hasn’t been terrible. He just hasn’t been playing at the same level as earlier this season since the injury. Remember, he is still a rookie.
Daniels’ numbers do prove that the injury has impacted his play. Check this out from The 33rd Team.
The rib injury Jayden Daniels suffered in Week 7 seems to still be impacting him 🤕
Daniels before the injury:
75.3% completion
107.1 rating
0.28 EPA/dropback
8.5 yards per attemptDaniels after the injury:
59.5% completion
89.6 rating
0.09 EPA/dropback
7.4 yards per attempt https://t.co/uOlp4Qznwo pic.twitter.com/bu45He1hVI— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) November 15, 2024
That’s quite the disparity. It’s also important to note that Daniels has played better defenses during that time, including against Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. But Daniels doesn’t look the same as a runner either, further suggesting the injury continues to nag him.
The good news is that after Thursday’s game, the Commanders have a few extra days off before beginning preparations for the Dallas Cowboys in Week 12. After playing the Cowboys, Washington hosts Tennessee in Week 13 before a much-needed Week 14 bye week.
So, hopefully, Daniels will have plenty of time to heal over the next few weeks.
