The Washington Commanders' long-awaited bye week is finally here, offering a much-needed opportunity to reflect on where things stand moving forward.
As far as playoff aspirations are concerned, it's a lost season for Washington. But that doesn't mean progress can't be made during the Commanders' remaining six games. That starts with getting as healthy as possible.
In that regard, there's one significant question mark that stands out above the rest. Will Jayden Daniels play again in 2025? And should he?
Commanders need to make the right decision on Jayden Daniels quickly
The second part of that isn't up for debate. Daniels should return if he is ready to go. The argument otherwise is nothing short of pitiful.
Any player could get hurt in any game. It's called football. If it's too dangerous for Daniels to be out there, cancel the sport.
Daniels could benefit from building positive momentum down the stretch, despite the widespread belief that playing in meaningless games can only result in adverse outcomes. He's a second-year quarterback who is still developing, and the Commanders have nothing at stake. It's the perfect opportunity to get him back into a rhythm that can translate into next year.
Even more critical for Daniels is that star wide receiver Terry McLaurin is also likely to be back at some point soon after the break. The dynamic duo who hooked up for 13 touchdowns last season have barely played together in 2025. They could use the chance to rebuild chemistry, provided no further health issues arise.
Letting Daniels play again is one thing. Having him be healthy enough is another.
The same goes for McLaurin, who has endured multiple setbacks that were considered minor issues but have become week-to-week matters. Obviously, you don't want to rush either of them back before they're ready. That comes with much more serious ramifications.
The Commanders will face tough decisions. Daniels' elbow injury has been deemed likely non-season-ending, but a return in Week 13 against the Denver Broncos is still far from a sure thing. The worst thing that can happen is that his return is put off week by week, with veteran understudy Marcus Mariota continuing to start amid long-term uncertainty.
If there's still cloudiness about Daniels' return in the first couple of weeks after the bye, that is when the Commanders should shut him down. Ideally, it won't come to that, and the signal-caller can still feature at some stage before attention turns to the 2026 offseason.