Jayden Daniels Hints at Sunday Return After Elbow Dislocation

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is optimistic about his potential return to the field this Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts in London, despite dislocating his left elbow 11 days prior. Daniels, who spoke to reporters for the first time since the injury on September 20, indicated that his elbow "feels good" and he is progressing day by day.

"Feels good to be back and, you know, taking it day by day," Daniels said. He acknowledged the surprise some might have at his swift potential return, stating, "I'm not surprised. No, everything I went through, you know, everybody said, I'd be good to go if I'm able to go out there on Sunday." When pressed about playing Sunday, Daniels smiled and reiterated, "Just taking the day by day."

A source close to Daniels confirmed that while he is not actively pressuring coaches to play, it is his strong desire to do so. This comes after initial concerns that the injury might require surgery and end his season prematurely. Following consultations with medical experts, Daniels opted for a brace on his non-throwing arm, managing the injury without surgery.

Coach Dan Quinn stated that the team will assess Daniels' progress in practices throughout the week before making a final decision, potentially starting backup Marcus Mariota if Daniels is not cleared. "As we're working through the week, he'll get more [repetitions in practice]," Quinn said. "It's part of our return-to-play process where guys do individual, that kind of limited portion, then some of the team reps and then more. As we get into Thursday and Friday, we'll see what that load looks like. And by Friday, we'll have a definite determination of where we're at."

Daniels expressed his motivation for returning, emphasizing his love for football and his role as a leader. "I love football. I play football," Daniels said. "I mean, I get paid to play football, so, I went to my teammates and stuff like that to see that everybody's hurting. Something's wrong with everybody on this team. So, I just feel like just for me, just being a leader, being a guy, just going out there and, give it my shot to go out there and play and obviously protect myself, you know, stuff like that. But, you know, I just love football. I have a passion for it."