With the Washington Commanders coming off their bye week, attention is quickly turning to the status of quarterback Jayden Daniels. And there is a growing belief that the superstar signal-caller can get back much sooner than initially expected.
There were collective gasps of pure horror and dismay when Daniels dislocated his elbow during prime time against the Seattle Seahawks. This was the latest in a series of frustrating injuries suffered by the No. 2 pick in 2024 this season. Fortunately, no structural or ligament damage was found after further testing.
Head coach Dan Quinn stated they would take things step by step with Daniels. There were insider reports of a recovery timeline of 3 to 6 weeks, but nothing was confirmed. Still, the murmurings coming from the former LSU phenom have raised excitement about his imminent return to the lineup.
Jayden Daniels drops biggest hint yet about imminent Commanders return
First, it was Daniels telling his close friend, Brandon Aiyuk, that he was almost ready. And the player's cryptic social media post did nothing to diminish the excitement across the fan base.
Jayden Daniels via Instagram
What could this mean? 🤔 pic.twitter.com/jJXczkTwvJ
— 𝒆𝒍𝒊… (@CMNDERS) November 24, 2025
This looks awfully like the gulag that Batman climbed out of in The Dark Knight Rises for a final battle with Bane. It is definitely a light at the end of the tunnel, which provides the clearest indicator yet that Daniels thinks he can get some work this week in practice before Week 13 against the Denver Broncos.
Debates have been raging through the bye week about whether Daniels should return this season. The Commanders have nothing left to play for, leading some experts to suggest that sitting Washington's franchise player would be the best option. That's a defeatist attitude, and it would reek of coaching scared from Quinn's standpoint.
Daniels is highly competitive. If he's healthy, he'll demand to be out on the field. With wide receiver Terry McLaurin also nearing a return, this could be the precise spark Washington's offense desperately needs.
Coming back against the Broncos' vaunted pass-rush represents a significant challenge. But Daniels, or any other player, can get hurt at any time. This is a violent business, and the need for Washington to generate some positive momentum before a crucial offseason is there for all to see.
It's hard to ignore the signs. Daniels is media-trained enough to know how this post would be perceived by his loyal fans. He is getting closer. If he manages to get some reps this week and comes through unscathed, he could be under center when the Commanders go under the national spotlight at Northwest Stadium next weekend.
That scenario is getting likelier than ever.