"In a lot of ways, the Washington Commanders' offseason full of organization-defining questions began Monday afternoon. We know Jayden Daniels - presumed to be the franchise quarterback - has endured a disjointed season defined by injury but also marred by inconsistent performance. We now know we will receive zero additional data points that might sharpen our opinion of what Daniels excels at and what needs work. That's less than ideal."
"To a degree, this is complicated. To a degree. Daniels hasn't yet been cleared for contact - though Quinn said Monday he would continue to practice. Because Daniels has departed the past three games he has played because of injuries, there's a trend here. He's the franchise's centerpiece. He provides a path to a brighter future. Protecting him is paramount."
"But sitting him sends the wrong message, too. By refusing to play Daniels even if he's healthy, the Commanders are either saying he hasn't learned how to avoid injury by altering his play style or that they believe the way he plays makes injury more likely - or both. Well, guess what? When training camp opens in 2026, Daniels will be listed as QB1. How does benching him now alleviate those concerns next fall?"
Jayden Daniels has endured a disjointed season defined by injuries and inconsistent performance, limiting his availability to seven of 17 games. The Commanders announced that Daniels will remain sidelined for the final games despite indications he might be over a left-elbow issue, eliminating chances to evaluate his health and development. Protecting Daniels aims to preserve the franchise centerpiece, but benching him when potentially healthy raises questions about his playing style, vulnerability to injury, and whether the team lacks confidence in his ability to stay healthy. The decision complicates evaluations of Daniels's skills and future as the team's QB1.
Read at The Washington Post
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