“That’s what the brace is for. If I had that concern, I would have got surgery,” Jayden Daniels said regarding his recovery from a dislocated elbow. Despite his participation in limited practices in London, Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn ruled out the starting quarterback for Sunday’s matchup against the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic.
Dan Quinn Rules Out Jayden Daniels for London Showdown
The Washington Commanders will face the Indianapolis Colts without Jayden Daniels on Sunday. Head coach Dan Quinn formally ruled out Jayden Daniels on Friday, opting to give the quarterback an extra week to recover from the dislocated elbow he suffered during a Week 2 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Although Daniels traveled to London with the team and tested his arm during limited practice sessions while wearing a brace on his left arm, medical and coaching staff decided caution was the prudent path.
“Clairement, pouvoir s’entraîner, c’est déjà une grande chose,” Dan Quinn noted regarding Daniels returning to the practice field, adding that the team will evaluate his progress throughout the coming week with a potential return targeted for Week 5 against the New York Giants. General manager Adam Peters reinforced that the organization views the injury as short-term, confirming that surgery was not considered and keeping Daniels off the injured reserve list—a move that would have forced him to miss at least four games.
Marcus Mariota Prepares for a Second Consecutive Start
With Daniels sidelined, quarterback Marcus Mariota will anchor the Washington offense for the second week in a row. Mariota stepped in during Week 2 after Daniels exited, completing 11 of 16 passes with a touchdown in relief against Dallas. He followed that effort last weekend by engineering a 33-31 victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, throwing three touchdown passes without an interception.
General manager Adam Peters praised the 32-year-old veteran earlier in the week, labeling him the best backup quarterback in the league. Mariota now prepares to attack an Indianapolis Colts defense that ranks 29th in points allowed and has surrendered more total yardage than any other squad across the NFL this season.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Hosts Week 4 Interconference Battle
Sunday’s fixture at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium kicks off at 9:30 a.m. ET as part of the league’s international series in London. Both the Commanders and the Colts enter the contest holding identical 1-2 records through the first three weeks of the season. While Indianapolis looks to shore up a leaky defensive unit that has struggled to contain opposing offenses, Washington aims to build upon the momentum generated by Mariota and a defense that forced two interceptions against Seattle last week.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Commanders and Colts Matchup
When and where is the game being played? The matchup between the Washington Commanders and Indianapolis Colts takes place on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, with kickoff scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET.
What injury is keeping Jayden Daniels out of the lineup? Daniels is recovering from a dislocated elbow sustained in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys. Though he practiced on a limited basis in London wearing a protective brace, Dan Quinn ruled him out for Sunday.
Who is starting at quarterback for Washington? Marcus Mariota will make his second consecutive start for the Commanders, stepping in after leading the team to a 33-31 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3.
When could Jayden Daniels make his return? Dan Quinn indicated that the team will evaluate Daniels’ status next week during full practices, with a potential return eyed for Week 5 against the New York Giants.
