Commanders' Jayden Daniels dealing with sprained knee injury, QB's availability for Week 3 in doubt: Reports

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/breaking-news/article/commanders-jayden-daniels-dealing-with-sprained-knee-injury-qbs-availability-for-week-3-in-doubt-reports-183219769.html

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is dealing with a sprained knee injury and could miss this week’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders, according to multiple reports.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday that the reigning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year received the diagnosis after undergoing an MRI following a Thursday night loss to the Green Bay Packers. The Commanders fell 27-18 at Lambeau Field, where Daniels was sacked four times and hit another six times.

While Daniels’ injury isn’t expected to be a long-term one, his availability for Washington’s Week 3 matchup is reportedly in doubt.

That said, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn told reporters Monday that Daniels has already started his return to play process and is “truly day-to-day.” When asked about Daniels’ status for Sunday, Quinn said he “can’t tell you that now.”

With about five minutes left in the fourth quarter last week, Daniels was brought down by Packers defensive lineman Kingsley Enagbare on a scramble. Enagbare appeared to make a hip-drop tackle on the play, except it wasn’t penalized as such.

Ahead of the 2024 season, the NFL banned hip-drop tackles, which are classified as tackles where (1) a player grabs the runner with both hands or wraps the runner with both arms and (2) unweights himself by swiveling and dropping his hips and/or lower body, landing on and trapping at least one of the runner’s legs at or below the knee.

Daniels got up gimpy and hobbled his way back to the line of scrimmage. Although he stayed in the game, he grabbed his left knee after being sacked two plays later. A touchdown pass to Deebo Samuel wrapped the series, however, it didn’t alleviate concerns about the second-year quarterback’s health.

While Daniels said he was “good” after the game, his MRI has indicated otherwise.

If the former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 overall pick can’t play this weekend against the Raiders, Commanders backup Marcus Mariota will get the nod.

Fortunately for Washington offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, Mariota is well-versed in the system. The Commanders won all three of the regular-season games he played in last year. Along the way, Mariota completed 34-of-44 passes, posting a 77.3% completion rate, while throwing for 364 yards, 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions.

But Daniels is the heartbeat of Washington’s renaissance under head coach Dan Quinn. He toyed with defenses as a first-year NFL signal-caller, piling up 4,459 total yards and 31 total touchdowns while leading the Commanders to their first NFC championship appearance since 1991.

Daniels’ injury this past Thursday wasn’t the only one that dinged the Commanders. Running back Austin Ekeler suffered a season-ending Achilles injury, and defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr. sustained a season-ending quad injury. Wide receiver Noah Brown and tight end John Bates both left the game early with groin injuries, and cornerback Jonathan Jones’ night was cut short because of a hamstring injury.

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/breaking-news/article/commanders-jayden-daniels-dealing-with-sprained-knee-injury-qbs-availability-for-week-3-in-doubt-reports-183219769.html