The Washington Commanders have shut down quarterback Jayden Daniels for the remainder of the 2025 season, a decision that became official Monday following a medical re-evaluation and broader organizational discussion.
According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Washington made the decision after Daniels was not medically cleared and faced an unfavorable late-season setup that included a matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, followed by a short-week Christmas game against the Dallas Cowboys. Rapoport reported that Daniels will now turn his focus toward supporting veteran Marcus Mariota over the final three games of the year.
Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed the decision during his Monday video conference with reporters, emphasizing that the move was influenced by both medical status and team context. Quinn said Daniels “still wasn’t all the way cleared to play,” adding that the organization felt this approach would best support his long-term development and health.
Washington enters the final stretch of the season at 4–10 and has already been eliminated from playoff contention. Daniels sat out Sunday’s 29–21 win over the New York Giants, a game that snapped the team’s eight-game losing streak.
The quarterback’s 2025 campaign was disrupted by multiple injuries. Daniels missed time earlier in the season with a sprained left knee and a right hamstring issue before suffering a dislocated left elbow, which he aggravated after returning to action against the Minnesota Vikings on Dec. 7, according to The Associated Press.
The decision marks an abrupt end to what was expected to be a pivotal second NFL season for Daniels. After appearing in all 20 games last year, including Washington’s run to the NFC Championship Game, the former No. 2 overall pick earned AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors following a standout debut season.
Statistically, Daniels took a step back in 2025 as injuries mounted. The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner completed 60.6% of his passes for 1,262 yards, throwing eight touchdowns and three interceptions, while adding 278 rushing yards and two scores. His passer rating declined from 100.1 as a rookie to 88.1 this season.
With Daniels sidelined, Washington will finish the year evaluating its roster while prioritizing the long-term health of its franchise quarterback.
Conor Forrest is the Editor-in-Chief and Senior Commanders Insider for SportsJourney.com. As a graduate of George Mason University, Forrest has spent the last eight years sharing his love for sports with listeners and viewers in the DC area and around the world. He hosts the “After Further Review Podcast” and has held numerous on-air and writing roles covering the DC area sports, Division 1 Basketball, and the NFL. His work has been featured on outlets like NBC Sports Washington, Fansided.com, Heavy.com and The Fourth Estate.
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