Jayden Daniels Playing Again After Gruesome Injury Could Be ‘Beneficial,’ Joe Theismann Says
Poor Washington Commanders fans have heard this story before. The team has a history of the star quarterbacks being lost to injury.
Jayden Daniels was injured Week 9 on “Sunday Night Football” when he suffered a gruesome left elbow dislocation. Daniels is now part of the Washington fraternity of quarterbacks with injury troubles, including Alex Smith, Robert Griffin III, and Joe Theismann.
Similar to Daniels, Theismann’s injury took place on primetime television, this time on “Monday Night Football” in 1985. Theismann’s leg broke after New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor landed on it. Taylor can immediately be seen yelling to the sideline for medical staff. Similar scenes unfolded on Sunday.
But, Daniels has not been placed on injured reserve. Head coach Dan Quinn said Daniels suffered no ligament damage and will not need surgery. Meaning, there is a possibility Daniels could return this season if the hole they dig isn’t too deep. The Commanders (3-7) face the Miami Dolphins (3-7) in an international matchup in Madrid, Spain, Sunday morning.
GettyLANDOVER, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 02: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders walks to the locker room after injuring his left arm during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in the game at Northwest Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Joe Theismann Says Jayden Daniels Playing Would Be Beneficial
Theismann told Fox News that the Commanders should let Daniels back on the field only if he is “medically cleared 100%, that he would not risk further injury to any of the injuries that he’s had.”
“I think being able to go back and play at some point would be beneficial to him to continue to grow,” Theismann told the outlet. “You have to remember he’s only in his second year and hasn’t played a lot in his second year. And the only real way you learn how to play this game is being out on the field, because you have to manage situations, you have to anticipate coverages, you have to protect yourself.”
Joe Theismann on Daniels, Dart, Richardson
The “protect yourself” aspect may be the most crucial, particularly for a mobile quarterback like Daniels.
“This is the one thing I tell all young quarterbacks when I get a chance to be around them: Don’t count on the rules to protect you. Protect yourself, run out of bounds, slide, throw the ball away. Always think of the next opportunity, the next play, because it doesn’t do you any good to try and take a shot or try and get special stuff when you’re hurt. You can’t learn when you’re hurt,” Theismann said.
“Same thing with Jaxson Dart — part of his game is running. OK, fine. Anthony Richardson, his game was running. You’re not gonna run over these guys, and here’s the thing — this is what I see. What people don’t understand is that as a wide receiver, you get to protect yourself a little more. As a running quarterback, when you get hit, you’re not used to getting pounded. You’re not used to going to the ground. It’s not an everyday occurrence for you as a quarterback. You’re in a pack of people when you drop back, but when you get out into open space, you get tackled. The thing that happens is your head hits the ground — that’s where the concussions occur. You watch quarterbacks in the pocket, their bottom hits the ground, then all of a sudden, bang — that’s where you get all the concussions. And when you’re in the open field, you’re easy meat. Hopefully he’ll be smarter after this. You don’t have to show you can run. There are times and ways to run, and times and ways not to run. Protect yourself.”
NFL Drops Punishment on Micah Parsons for Unflagged Play vs. Eagles
Talk about piling it on.
Less than a week after the Packers fell 10–7 at home to the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay’s star defensive player was hit with a fine. In the closing minutes of the loss, Packers edge rusher Micah Parsons extended his leg to trip Eagles running back Saquon Barkley as Barkley began to run rampant in the secondary.
Parsons’ trip of the All-Pro RB prevented a potential explosive play, but it drew almost instant scrutiny on social media. The refs missed it in-game, though, and Parsons wasn’t flagged. During their weekly review, the league office didn’t miss it, and decided Parsons’ antics were worthy of a $12,172 fine for unnecessary roughness, categorized under the umbrella of striking/kicking/tripping.
More on Packers Edge Micah Parsons Getting Fined for Tripping Eagles RB Saquon Barkley
Getty Green Bay Packers edge Micah Parsons was fined for tripping Eagles RB Saquon Barkley Week 10.
Parsons has already voiced public frustration about officiating this season, previously calling out NFL refs for what he perceives to be a systemic bias that favors offense and punishes defensive physicality, the fine kinda-sorta reinforces that perception. That said, Parsons
The five-figure fine also won’t hurt the Packers star’s pocketbook.
Considering Green Bay inked Parsons to a four-year extension worth $186 million (with $136 million guaranteed and a hefty signing bonus in excess of $44 million), we think he can afford to pay it.
Parsons, Packers Look to Rebound Week 11 vs. New York Giants
Green Bay’s defense played well against Philadelphia, but Jordan Love and the offense couldn’t get things going.
“It’s just one of them things like, we gonna win together and we’re gonna lose together, regardless of the outcome,” Parsons said after the loss to Philly, via CBS Sports. “Being there for our teammates, regardless of who’s playing better, which side (of the football) is playing better. When everyone gets rolling, we’ll be a really good team.”
Parsons and the Packers will have the perfect chance to get right Week 11, going up against a flailing New York Giants squad in the midst of a reset.
Following the dismissal of former head coach Brian Daboll, Mike Kafka has stepped in as the the Giants‘ interim head coach. This will be Kafka’s first time ever serving as a head coach at the NFL level. He made his first major personnel decision earlier this week when he named veteran Jameis Winston the starting QB until rookie Jaxson Dart returns from concussion protocol.
“The way we just played, we’re going to win a lot of football games,” Parsons added after holding the reigning Super Bowl champion eagles to just 10 points. “So I would not panic, I wouldn’t stress, we’re going to win football games, I promise you.”
After losing two games in a row, Parsons and the Packers have to some of that winning starting with their Week 11 matchup vs. New York.
