Jayden Daniels and JuJu Watkins Spark Relationship Speculation After Week 5 Win
In Week 5, Jayden Daniels’ return to the field from a knee injury sparked the Washington Commanders to a 27-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He finished the game 15-of-26 passing for 231 yards and one touchdown, adding eight carries for 39 rushing yards.
His performance was not the only reason fans were buzzing about the Fontana, Calif. native after his return to the Los Angeles area. Daniels grabbed the attention of sports fans across the internet when he celebrated the victory with USC basketball star JuJu Watkins, who was seated among their families at SoFi Stadium.
Fans on social media ran with speculation about Daniels and Watkins’ relationship after seeing their special handshake that reminded some of sports power couple A’ja Wilson and Bam Adebayo.
It was not the only time they have been seen together this year. Daniels, 24, and Watkins, 20, enjoyed each other’s company at a women’s NCAA Tournament game in March — until Daniels’ mom, Regina Jackson, famously sat in between them.
Daniels and Jackson — who has spoken out publicly about concerns with her son’s dating life — were also seen at Watkins’ 20th birthday party in July.
“Girls,” Jackson said of her concerns during an episode of Amazon Prime’s “The Money Game: LSU.” “Them girls. Some girl out here, she’s got a Jayden Daniels wall, and her mama said, ‘Hey honey, you’re gonna be the one who is gonna go get him.’”
“And I know that sounds crazy, but I guarantee there is someone out there who is trying to get their hooks into Jayden Daniels,” she said. “So, thank God he got a mama like me, because it ain’t happening.”
Those hoping to find out if Watkins is Daniels’ girlfriend may be disappointed to know that the Trojans’ guard, who recently announced she miss the entire 2025-2026 season with an ACL injury, dodged the question from a TMZ reporter this summer.
As for Daniels, the Commanders quarterback is not known to be publicly dating anyone at the moment.
Washington plays the Chicago Bears on ESPN’s “Monday Night Football” in Week 6. The game kicks off from Northwest Stadium at 8:15 p.m. ET on ABC.
Broncos HC Sean Payton Draws Attention Before NFL Trade Deadline
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Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton look on before facing the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Denver Broncos are keeping their options open as the 2025 NFL trade deadline approaches, according to attention-grabbing comments from head coach Sean Payton.
Sitting at 4-2 and in second place in the AFC West despite not playing their best ball, the Broncos could have the luxury of standing pat, knowing their young roster should peak closer toward the end of the regular season and the beginning of the playoffs.
Instead, it sounds as though the Broncos could be slightly more active before the deadline.
Broncos HC Sean Payton Leaves Door Open for Trade Before Deadline
The Broncos are coming off their third straight victory on the season, defeating the New York Jets in London in Week 6. Payton and the Broncos will take on the New York Giants in Week 7, with the trade deadline on November 4.
That is heading into Week 10, when the Broncos will host the Las Vegas Raiders on “Thursday Night Football.”
Still, while Payton is not there yet, the Broncos will assess their desire to make a trade.
“Yeah, at some point,” Payton told reporters on October 12. “We would always pay attention to what we might be looking for, and I think we have time to do that. But I’m not thinking about that right now.”
“The trade deadline is three weeks from tomorrow..
I would think that there will be trades made this week..
The Chargers are looking for a RB and the Steelers are looking for a WR” ~ @AdamSchefter #PMSLive
The Broncos have some young prospects they could use as part of a trade. However, the Broncos have $5.8 million in cap space, per Over The Cap. Their finances open up in 2026, with a projected $49.5 million in room.
The Broncos also have seven selections in the 2026 draft and future capital to utilize.
Still, there are several other factors the Broncos must consider before the 2025 NFL trade deadline passes.
Broncos’ ‘Biggest Need’ Lies on Defense
GettyAlex Singleton #49 of the Denver Broncos celebrates an incomplete pass against the Philadelphia Eagles.
NFL.com’s Kevin Patra listed every team’s biggest need heading into the 2025 trade deadline, and for the Broncos, he chose linebacker. It is both a review of their season to this point and the offseason that preceded it.
“Big-ticket free-agent addition Dre Greenlaw hasn’t been able to play this season. Coming off an ACL injury, Alex Singleton has been on a roller-coaster season, particularly in coverage — he gave up a whopping seven catches for 90 yards and two TDs against Philly,” Patra wrote in an article published on October 7. “Some insurance wouldn’t be bad.”
The Broncos signed Greenlaw to a three-year, $31.5 million contract in free agency.
Singleton is in the final year of a three-year, $18 million pact, while the Broncos have turned to long-time special teamer Justin Strnad in Greenlaw’s absence.
Saquon Barkley’s 47-yard TD reception.
Jalen Hurts makes a pre-snap check. The Broncos are in man coverage (as they had been for majority of the game up to this point), meaning Saquon is matched up on #49 Alex Singleton.
The other thing to point out here though is where each
They have veteran Garret Wallow and undrafted rookie free agent Karene Reid on the active roster, and fellow UDFAs Jordan Turner and second-year man Levelle Bailey on the practice squad. The Broncos boast depth, but they lack experience beyond their current starters.
Patra also correctly identified guard as “another situation to monitor” amid Ben Powers’ injury.
“If the replacements — Matt Peart or Alex Palczewski — struggle, it could be a concern moving forward,” Patra wrote.
Peart indeed struggled filling in for Powers, who is out until December. Payton spread the blame around, but the Broncos could try Palczewski before making a decision. They have three more games before the deadline.
Broncos Have Trade Deadline Pattern
GettyDenver Broncos general manager George Paton speaks with reporters at the 2025 Scouting Combine.
The Broncos also have a noteworthy pattern at the trade deadline, more so under general manager George Paton than Payton. Paton has made five deals at the trade deadline in his four previous seasons as Broncos GM.
Each time, an edge rusher was involved.
Moreover, only one of those deals – acquiring Jake Martin from the Jets in 2022 – was to acquire a player.
The Broncos traded two former first-round draft picks in Bradley Chubb (Miami Dolphins, 2022) and Von Miller (Los Angeles Rams, 2021), an ex-second-round selection in Randy Gregory (San Francisco 49ers, 2023), and a third-rounder in Baron Browning (Arizona Cardinals, 2024).
New Cardinals pass rusher Baron Browning felt like he knew a trade was coming. "I was just ready for it to be done just to kinda get this fresh start and show what I can do. I know I'm a starter in this league and I know I can play at a high level.” pic.twitter.com/Fi2kw0mcjE
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) November 6, 2024
Those teams were not looking to compete at the trade deadline like the 2025 Broncos, though.
Candidates like veteran UDFA Dondrea Tillman and 2024 third-round pick Jonah Elliss are part of the rotation behind Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto.
Rookie fourth-round pick Quandarrius Robinson has been active for one game, underscoring how comfortable the Broncos have been with their current crop of edge rushers. So, perhaps Patra’s call for linebacker or even offensive line help will be heeded at the deadline.
