Commanders Get Update on QB Jayden Daniels Before Broncos Game
The Washington Commanders got a major update on starting QB Jayden Daniels ahead of their Week 13 game against the Broncos. Daniels has been out since Week 9 when he suffered a dislocated elbow late in a blowout loss to the Seahawks. It’s the second stretch of time Daniels has missed this season after missing two games with a leg injury early in the season.
According to Adam Schefter, ESPN’s NFL insider, Daniels practiced all week in a “limited capacity.” He’s already been ruled out against Denver, and he hasn’t yet been cleared for contact as he attempts to return from injury. That’s still a major hurdle Daniels will have to overcome before he can return to the field in a game setting.
Daniels would like to play if he’s healthy, but it’s unclear when that will be. It’s possible he could make his return in Week 14 against Minnesota, but we should have a better idea of his timeline as he practices next week. Until he’s cleared for contact, he’ll be a ways out from making his return.
Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniel Couldn’t Replicate His Rookie Success
After a sensational college career at Arizona State and LSU, Daniels was selected No. 2 overall by the Commanders in the 2024 draft. He hit the ground running in his first season, winning the Offensive Rookie of the Year award behind 3,568 passing yards and 25 touchdowns to nine interceptions, completing passes at a 69-percent clip. Daniels added 891 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground, quickly establishing himself as one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the league.
The Commanders overachieved last year, winning 12 games and making a surprise run to the NFC Championship Game, knocking off the Bucs and the Lions (the NFC’s No. 1 seed) along the way. In every sense of the word, Daniels was special, and Washington entered this season with a lot of optimism to continue working towards a championship.
This season, Daniels has thrown for 1,184 yards and eight touchdowns to two interceptions at a 62.5 percent completion rate in six games. On top of that, he’s added 262 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns.
The Washington Commanders Need to Undergo a Mini Roster Reset
In addition to Daniels’ middling production, the Commanders have the oldest roster in the NFL, and the team kind of fell apart around Daniels. Injuries to his wide receivers and running backs, combined with regression from the offensive line, hamstrung this offense even when Daniels was on the field. His injuries only added to the Commanders’ woes.
Additionally, Washington has the league’s worst secondary and a non-existent pass rush. All told, the Commanders are working on a 3-8 season, a far cry from the lofty heights they expected to reach. They need to get younger and add talent in the trenches, but that’s easier said than done.
With Alvin Kamara sidelined, rookie running back has a golden chance to prove himself as the Saints’ lead back against Miami’s shaky defense
The New Orleans Saints will be without the services of Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara for the first time this season on Sunday when they take on the Miami Dolphins.
New Orleans released its list of seven inactives on Sunday and Kamara popped up on the list due to knee and ankle injuries, along with Ugo Amadi, Rejzohn Wright, Barry Wesley, Zaire Mitchell-Paden, John Ridgeway III, and Khristian Boyd.
The Saints rookie will have a shot on Sunday
"New Orleans Saints inactives for Sunday's game vs. the Miami Dolphins: No. 0 Defensive Back Ugo Amadi, No. 25 Cornerback Rejzohn Wright, No. 41 Running back Alvin Kamara, No. 69 Tackle Barry Wesley, No. 84 Tight End Zaire Mitchell-Paden, No. 95 Defensive Tackle John Ridgeway III, (and) No. 97 Defensive Tackle Khristian Boyd."
Kamara missed practice throughout the week after exiting the Saints' Week 12 loss against the Atlanta Falcons. With the five-time Pro Bowler out for Week 13, this will be the best opportunity of the season so far for rookie running back Devin Neal.
New Orleans lost backup running back Kendre Miller to injury earlier in the season, which opened the door for playing time for Neal. Now, he's the team's clear No. 1 running back with Kamara out. He popped up on the team's injury report earlier in the week with an ankle injury but was a full participant in Friday's practice.
On the season, Neal has just 61 rushing yards on 17 carries. His high on the season is just seven carries, which should change on Sunday. His season-high is 22 rushing yards on the season.
That might not excite the fanbase, but this is a guy who was electric in college. Neal had 1,266 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns in 2024 with Kansas in 12 games. In 2023, he had 1,280 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns in 13 games played. This is a guy who had 21 or more receptions in three straight seasons, as well in college.
He hasn't been able to show the fanbase what he can do yet, but this will be his best chance yet. Plus, it doesn't hurt that his first extended look will be against a bad Dolphins defense as well.
