Jayden Daniels injury update: Commanders star rookie returns to locker room for X-rays against Panthers

The Commanders are not accustomed to entering any game as decisive favorites, but Sunday’s clash with the Panthers was a game they were expected to win. The reason? Jayden Daniels.

Daniels has looked like Washington’s long-term solution at quarterback through the first six games of his NFL career, breaking through with a dominant performance against the Bengals under the lights in Week 3 and carrying that momentum into the next three weeks.

Although Sunday’s game at Carolina gave Daniels another seemingly soft landing spot, given the Panthers’ defensive struggles, the Commanders saw their season pass before their eyes when Daniels left injured.

Here are the latest updates on Daniels’ status for the rest of the game and beyond.

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Jayden Daniels Injury Update

Daniels returned to the locker room with a rib injury on Sunday. He was listed as questionable to return.

The Rookie of the Year candidate initially entered the blue tent for evaluation and was seen grimacing on the bench as medical staff palpated the area around his rib cage.

Daniels tried to return to the game, putting on his helmet and warming up on the sideline, but he clearly wasn’t feeling well. He hit his helmet and went to the locker room to take x-rays, the CBS broadcast reported.

Jayden Daniels isn’t having fun on the Commanders sideline pic.twitter.com/RwxYbjoQ3z

– NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) October 20, 2024

Marcus Mariota replaced Daniels with the Commanders leading 10-0. Daniels threw for just six yards before leaving the game, but a six-yard pick by Dante Fowler on Andy Dalton gave Washington an early lead against Carolina for a win.

Daniels is ready for a showdown with the only player picked before him in April’s draft in Week 8, as the Commanders host the Bears in a game that was recently relaxed to 4:25 p.m. ET. It remains to be seen whether Daniels will be ready for that game.

Who is the Commanders backup QB?

Marcus Mariota became the Commanders’ backup quarterback when he was signed by Washington in free agency.

Mariota agreed to a one-year, $6 million contract, knowing he would likely serve as a backup and veteran mentor to a rookie quarterback, and spent training camp working with Daniels as they both acclimated to Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. .