ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who hasn't played since dislocating his left elbow Nov. 9, will start Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, coach Dan Quinn said Friday.
Daniels, who was a full participant in practice Thursday and Friday, will face the NFL's fifth-rated passing defense in Minnesota (4-8). The Commanders (3-9) have lost seven consecutive games.
Quinn said it was a group decision to start Daniels this week, a group that included the medical staff and Daniels himself. Quinn said they did a lot of post-practice work with contact, and "the throwing part, he's been on that the whole time. That's looked as sharp as ever."
He also said it was important for Daniels to play again considering there are five games remaining and he is only in his second season.
"It's important for him, for his teammates," Quinn said. "All these [games] matter. As he's developing, there are certain things he has to work on, too, to be as competitive and take care of things."
Daniels agreed with that sentiment -- and wasn't swayed by arguments he should sit so he can get to next year healthy.
"Who's to say I'm not going to go into next year healthy?" he said. "We take it one day at a time and before I was getting paid I was playing it for free. I have that passion for the game. I'm a young guy, I'm still trying to develop, still trying to learn. These games are critical."
David Blough, who is handling the quarterback coach duties after Tavita Pritchard was named head coach at Stanford, said they can help Daniels with play calls but they have reminded him often of his importance to the organization.
"Helping him see big picture is really important," said Blough, the assistant quarterbacks coach since 2024. "He's an elite competitor; that's his superpower. We also have to protect him and help him understand the longevity needed in this league."
Daniels has played in parts of six games this season because of multiple injuries. He missed two games with a sprained left knee, which was hit at the end of a scramble in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers. He missed one game after injuring his right hamstring on a play in the pocket in Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys.
Then, in Week 9 against the Seattle Seahawks, Daniels scrambled after faking a handoff and eschewing a pass while trailing 38-7 with just over seven minutes left in the game. When tackled, he braced his fall with his left elbow, which got bent backward.
X-rays were negative and an MRI revealed no structural damage, fueling hope for his return. Daniels said he really only felt the pain in his elbow for two days.
Daniels, last season's NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has thrown for 1,184 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions. He has run for 262 yards and two scores.
He also endured more obstacles in year 2 than as a rookie.
"It's been a lot of adversity, but I'm young in my career and it's something I've got to battle through," he said. "You go through adversity at some point, so you try to weather the storm and see the light at the end of the tunnel."
Sunday also will be the first time since Week 2 that Washington will have its top three receivers plus Daniels available for a game.
Noah Brown, who suffered a groin injury in that game, is expected to play Sunday; he will likely be activated off injured reserve Saturday. Terry McLaurin returned last week after missing seven of the previous eight games with a right quad injury. Deebo Samuel, who has missed only one game, leads Washington with 58 receptions for 534 yards and five touchdowns.
With Daniels, Quinn said they want him to continue learning how to play and protect himself on the field.
"You want to attack first; that's who he is as a ballplayer and competitor," Quinn said, "and you want to make great decisions: When is the time this play has to get extended, when can I throw it away, when can I slide? All are important parts of the development. That's why it matters."