Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has been diagnosed with a knee sprain, throwing his Week 3 participation into doubt.
The 24-year-old played the entirety of Thursday night’s loss against the Green Bay Packers but then underwent an MRI scan after the game.
The results are now back, and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that his status for Week 3 is in doubt after he was told he has a knee sprain.
Daniels has avoided a more serious injury – unlike his fellow quarterback, the Cincinnati Bengals’ Joe Burrow – but the news will still come as a blow to Washington.
The Commanders are 1-1 for the season and face the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, with Marcus Mariota now preparing for snaps as the starting quarterback.
Until this point, the ever-impressive Daniels has not missed a game since making his NFL debut at the start of last season.
Jayden Daniels (right) had an MRI scan after the Week 2 loss against the Green Bay Packers
Daniels has a knee sprain and could miss the Commanders’ Week 3 game against Las Vegas
Marcus Mariota, an 11-year NFL veteran, is preparing to be the starting QB for Washington
He went 12-5 in a remarkable rookie campaign, taking his team to the NFC title game where they lost against the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles.
He helped the team snap a 19-year postseason win drought and is widely regarded as the key cog in their bid to go one better this season and fight for a Lombardi Trophy.
It is reported that the final decision on Daniels’ injury was made on Monday when he paid a further visit to the team doctor.
Mariota, meanwhile, has started 74 games in an 11-year NFL career and is a very able backup for the team.
Last season, he went 34 of 44 for 364 yards and four touchdowns in three relief appearances for Washington, but he hasn’t started a game since 2022.
