Commanders’ Daniels to return to practice, ‘unlikely’ to play against Broncos

Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has not been cleared for contact, but he will return to practice this week, coach Dan Quinn said on Monday.

The second-year signal-caller has missed two games since dislocating his left elbow during a loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 2.

“He will be able to return to practice. We had our first session today, but he has not been cleared for contact,” Quinn told reporters. “He’ll probably be unlikely to play, but man, it’s good to get started and get the return to play going. That’s a big deal for us.”

Starting receivers Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown, two other injury-limited stars, were also back in action Monday. 

McLaurin, dealing with a quad injury, has only played one game in the team’s last eight, while Brown has missed all but two games this season and has been on injured reserve since Oct. 15 with a groin injury. 

Daniels has been hampered by injuries while the Commanders have limped to a 3-8 start. 

The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year has missed five games with knee, hamstring and elbow injuries.

Despite the mounting injuries, Washington’s leaders have not expressed any plans to shut Daniels down for the remainder of the season.

“I think it’s important as Jayden’s getting going, learning to play this position at the highest level competitively, also doing it safely, and those are reps that you develop as well,” Quinn said. “It’s a skill, just like throwing and processing. And so, all those things are important.”

In six starts this season, Daniels has thrown for 1,184 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. 

It’s been a dramatic dropoff from last season, when Daniels completed 331 of 480 throws — 69% — for 3,568 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He added 891 yards on 148 carries and six TDs on the ground en route to the Commanders posting a 12-5 regular season.

If Daniels is still unable to play on Sunday, veteran Marcus Mariota will start as the Commanders host the Denver Broncos in prime time.