Commanders’ Jayden Daniels Returns to Practice: Will He Play vs. Colts?

Daniels dislocated his left elbow during Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys and returned to practice Wednesday. His participation was initially viewed as limited before evolving into a full 60-hour — or rather, 60-minute — moderate-pace session after the team arrived in Hertfordshire earlier that morning, according to team reports.

“We aren’t going to throw him into the fray until he is ready,” Quinn said. “It is important to trust the process. But having him back out on the field is good news for us.”

The Precedent and the Protection Plan

Daniels suffered the exact same elbow injury during Week 9 of the 2025 season before returning and aggravating it five weeks later, an injury timeline that forced him to miss Washington’s final four games of that campaign.

To safeguard against a similar setback, Daniels wore a black brace on his elbow during Wednesday’s session and is slated to keep it on for the remainder of the season. During practice, he took handoffs, ran footwork agility drills, and threw passes at the conclusion of those movements while wearing an inverted baseball cap and appearing in good spirits.

Quinn noted that Daniels will receive an increasing number of repetitions as the week progresses. The final decision on his availability will hinge on his functional capacity, strength, and pain tolerance.

Marcus Mariota Stays Ready

In Daniels’ absence during Week 3, veteran backup Marcus Mariota guided the Commanders to a 33-31 upset victory over the Seattle Seahawks. Mariota completed 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards and tossed three touchdowns against a formidable Seattle secondary, keeping Washington competitive while the offense generated 258 total yards.

If Daniels cannot receive medical clearance to start against Indianapolis, Mariota will remain under center for Sunday’s matchup.

London Travel Plans and Roster Updates

Beyond the quarterback room, Commanders insider Nicki Jhabvala reported via social media that Daniels, tight end Chig Okonkwo, and linebacker Frankie Luvu will all travel to London to practice with the team in some capacity this week, signaling that a return for the international contest remains a realistic possibility.