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Washington Post (paywall)
Jayden Daniels is back. Now the Commanders need him to scramble safely.
Daniels, who has been cleared to play Sunday, scrambles more than any quarterback in the league. Protecting himself while doing so will be the key to a successful return.
The…urgent question, both for Daniels and the team, is the same one that has trailed him for years: Can his scrambling ability continue to be his superpower, without also being his kryptonite?
“In this league, to survive, there’s certain hits you have to try to avoid,” Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff
Kingsbury said last week.
“We can talk about it all we want, but when he’s out there, he’s got to understand: You’re carrying the entire organization with you anytime you’re out there. And to err on the side of caution, if there is a hit you can take off your body.”
Daniels, the reigning offensive rookie of the year, is generally thought of as a running quarterback. The truth, though, is that he gets most of his yards when scrambling rather than on designed run plays or run-pass options — especially outside the red zone.
According to TruMedia, Daniels has scrambled on a whopping 13 percent of his dropbacks since he entered the NFL at the start of last year — the highest rate among any quarterback with more than 100 dropbacks during that span. He has also scrambled for 152 more yards than any other signal-caller in the league, despite missing so much of this season with injuries.
David Blough, who has assumed the responsibilities of quarterbacks coach following the recent departure of Tavita Pritchard, said Friday that there have been multiple conversations — and film sessions — with Daniels focused on how he can protect himself on the field.
Daniels has spoken repeatedly about understanding the need to protect himself from unnecessary hits. And, despite some misconceptions about his recklessness, that is what he has done in the overwhelming majority of cases.
During his time in Washington, Daniels has stepped out of bounds, slid or otherwise given himself up at the end of nearly 69 percent of his scrambling attempts — and he has actually done so at a slightly higher rate this season (71 percent) than a year ago (67 percent), albeit with a smaller sample size.
The issue is that the minority of plays in which he has taken hits have come with an outsize risk. Daniels sprained his knee while trying to run away from Green Bay linebacker Micah Parsons on a second and 10 with the Commanders trailing 17-3 in the fourth quarter. And he injured his elbow while freelancing on a play near the goal line with his team down 38-7, in what amounted to garbage time.(The play was supposed to be a handoff or throw, not a scramble, according to Quinn.)
Now that he is cleared to play, Daniels will have five games to begin reinforcing to Washington’s coaches (and its wary fan base) that he can be smart and safe while still being dynamic.
He has only 13 carries on designed runs or run-pass options this season, and it appears unlikely Kingsbury would go out of his way to give Daniels more carries. Progress, then, will be in Daniels continuing to scramble safely.
The Athletic (paywall)
Week 14 Mailbag: you’ve got questions; Nicki’s got answers
What’s the team’s take on Ben Sinnott?
I think this is one where you have to look beyond what is said publicly. I think the Commanders do value Sinnott and want and hope he’ll be good. However, they invested a second-round pick in him — not exactly a “developmental” pick — and this season, more than ever, they could’ve used another reliable pass catcher since injuries have decimated their receiving corps. Yet Sinnott has been targeted just eight times in two years. To me, that speaks volumes.
So, why didn’t Quinn, as head coach, make [the change at defensive coordinator] sooner?
[P]erhaps Washington should’ve utilized more zone coverages sooner, but that likely wasn’t the ultimate fix. The team still isn’t winning, and it’s still giving up big plays.
Since Week 11, when Quinn took over play calling, 11.1 percent of opponents’ rushes have been “explosive,” or gains of at least 12 yards. That’s tied for the league-high in that span. Overall, 12.2 percent of opponents’ plays have been explosive since Week 11, down only slightly from the 13.1 percent in Weeks 1-10.
Quinn has never complained about the added responsibilities. He felt he wasn’t at his best as a coach when he doubled up in Atlanta and didn’t want to repeat that mistake. But he has said he may keep doing both jobs next season
What is Quinn’s shelf life in Washington?
Quinn did take the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game for the first time in three decades last season. And he did lose to injuries three defensive ends, both starting cornerbacks, his top safety, his top running back and three of his top four receivers for much of the season. And, oh yeah, he was also without his star young quarterback for six games.
I’m not saying he’s free of blame for all the things that went wrong this season. However, given the team’s success last season and the fact that Washington has only just begun its latest rebuild, it would seem counterintuitive to start over with a new regime. He won’t get forever to turn the team around, but come on.
I get the talk of “finishing strong” and “building for next year,” but wins at this point count for very little. Isn’t the franchise better served by tanking, with the hopes of getting another franchise-defining player or a haul of picks in a trade by landing a top-four pick?
I don’t know what you’re worried about. They’ve been losing for two months now.
ESPN
Dan Quinn gets Commanders’ defense back on track
Now Washington’s defense can do something once thought unlikely: finish strong. It faces weaker offenses in the Minnesota Vikings (28th in scoring) and the New York Giants (19th) the next two games, then a struggling Philadelphia Eagles group, , which has averaged 15.5 points over the past five games and is 22nd in scoring, in two of the last three weeks.
If the Commanders indeed finish strong, it could force Quinn to make a decision: Does he continue as playcaller, or does he go back to being the head coach who came to Washington saying he wanted to delegate more responsibilities?
Whether Quinn sticks with playcalling in 2026 remains to be seen. As the Atlanta Falcons’ head coach in 2019, Quinn served as the defensive coordinator. But after a disappointing start, he began to delegate playcalling responsibilities, with Raheem Morris eventually taking the role full time.
But Quinn also landed a head coaching job initially because of his work with Seattle in 2013-14, when the Seahawks were first in both points and yards each season. In three years with Dallas from 2021 to 2023, the Cowboys ranked the top seven in points each season and were fifth in yards in his last year.
Quinn made it clear he wanted to delegate in Washington. But he also likes how he works with Whitt and that he has two former head coaches on offense in Anthony Lynn and Kliff Kingsbury. He also said he has leaned heavily on pass game coordinator/assistant head coach Brian Johnson.
When asked if he missed playcalling and was perhaps energized in handling this job again, Quinn said: “Missed, yes. Energized, no [laughing]. Calling is a lot of fun. The players energize me.”
But it’s not as if the numbers show a defense that was near the bottom and then vaulted into the top 10. Rather, there have been improvements in some areas.
From Weeks 7 to 10, the defense allowed 154 points in losing each game by at least 21 points — the first time that has happened to the franchise since 1954. Entering Week 11, Washington ranked 28th in scoring and 30th in yards.
In this two-game stretch, they rank 14th in scoring but 25th in yards.
In the past two games, Washington has faced Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix — ranked 28th and 20th, respectively, in total QBR. Against the Commanders, their combined QBR was 45.6.
Early in the season, Washington was hurt when teams — Green Bay in particular — used motion vs. their man looks. As Reaves said, it created leverage issues. Now, he said, “We’re presenting zone and now that creates that split second hold of, ‘I don’t know what they’re in.’ Now it creates time for the rush.”
Commanders.com
3 keys for Commanders vs. Vikings
Use all the offensive weapons.
For the first time since Week 2, the Commanders are expected to have all their weapons at receiver on the field at the same time. Regardless of who is playing quarterback, the Commanders need to flex those muscles and use all their options to break their losing streak.
Terry McLaurin, who missed over half the season with a quad injury, reminded fans what kind of impact he could have last weekend, when he caught seven passes for 96 yards and a touchdown. Despite it being his first game back in a month, he was targeted 14 times and played 46 snaps — much higher than what was planned for his return.
The Commanders are also anticipating Noah Brown, who hasn’t played since Week 2, to be activated off IR and return to the active roster this week. Brown was one of the team’s best deep threats last season, but one of his greatest skills was drawing defensive pass interference calls, ranking second in the category.
Washington’s complete passing arsenal being on the field means the Vikings’ defense cannot overcommit to stopping the run. The Commanders are still a top five offense on the ground but have struggled at times to stay consistent because defenses have been able to sell out to contain it. McLaurin, Samuel and Brown on the field means there could be more room for Chris Rodriguez, Jeremy McNichols and Jacory Croskey-Merritt to create explosive plays.
Commanders Wire
Washington Commanders vs. Minnesota Vikings: 4 reasons for optimism
Vikings offensive struggles
The Vikings’ offense has struggled this season. Rotating through four quarterbacks hasn’t been helpful in that regard, and even when starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy has been on the field, he’s been inconsistent. He tends to turn the ball over, especially in an unstable offense.
Minnesota ranks 29th in total offense and 28th in scoring. Over their last four games, the Vikings have scored just 42 points, including being shut out by Seattle. The Commanders’ defense has struggled this season as well, but they could shine against the Vikings this week.
Riggo’s Rag
Commanders need a stellar performance from Daron Payne against the Vikings
The expectation, even looking back to the start of the year, fair or not, is that he anchors whatever the new identity looks like.
Yet the production hasn’t been there. Not even close.
Payne enters Week 14 on the longest pressure drought of his career: three straight games without a single pressure. On 62 combined pass rush snaps across those matchups, the interior defensive lineman didn’t generate a single hurry, hit, or sack. In 129 career games, he had never gone three straight weeks without registering pressure, until now.
And when you zoom out, the complete picture of his season isn’t much kinder.
Payne hasn’t recorded a sack since Week 1, when he opened the year with a two-sack burst against the New York Giants. He has 17 total pressures from the interior — respectable, but far below what Washington needs from him. Add in the suspension for punching Amon-Ra St. Brown in Week 10, which kept him out of the Madrid game, and 2025 has been the most turbulent year of his career.
Still, the talent hasn’t evaporated. Payne remains one of the league’s most explosive interior athletes, capable of taking over a ballgame when he’s locked in. And if the Commanders want to inch to 4–9 and find something positive to build on, it’s going to start with No. 94 collapsing the interior against quarterback J.J. McCarthy.
For the burgundy and gold, Week 14 represents a crossroads — not just for Washington, but for Payne’s season.
Riggo’s Rag
Every Commanders WR is auditioning aside from McLaurin
It’ll be interesting to see what the Commanders have planned for Brown, especially after so long away from the gridiron. Giving him a full workload seems highly unlikely. He’ll probably be on a snap count, but who he comes in for will be much more telling.
And it won’t be Terry McLaurin or Deebo Samuel Sr.
Treylon Burks is finally starting to build back confidence. Rookie fourth-rounder Jaylin Lane does his best work from the slot. Chris Moore doesn’t seemingly have much of a future with the club beyond 2025, and he saw his snap percentage decrease to 27.8 when McLaurin came back in Week 13.
Everyone is auditioning, aside from McLaurin. That also goes for Samuel, who’s made an outstanding impression this season and could get another commitment from the franchise with a strong end to the campaign. The others, apart from Lane, are out of contract, so every rep and every target matters.
Heavy.com
Injury to Daniels Could Jeopardize 2026
While there are those who applaud Daniels for being tough enough and loyal enough to his teammates to come back and play meaningless games, it should also be with the understanding if he gets hurt again then 2026 could be another lost season.
“It would be an outrage if the Commanders started Jayden Daniels again this year,” The Ringer’s Joe House said on “The Bill Simmons Podcast” on Tuesday, November 25. “You just can’t do it. If he gets hurt again and misses time for 2026 … that would be such a disservice to him and to the whole franchise.”
Podcasts & videos
Commanders’ Will Harris “It plays a pivotal role when the leader of your team is a dog”
OPPORTUNITY: Jordan Magee Could See Increased Playing Time | Bobby Wagner and Jayden Daniels Injury
NFC East links
Blogging the Boys
Another 40-point game for Lions against Cowboys takes bite out of playoff chances
A Cowboys defense has not given up at least 40 points to three opponents in one season since 1962. Thursday night marked the second year in a row the Lions offense, playing against a different but familiar defensive coordinator for the Cowboys, scored 40 against Dallas, this time only winning by two scores, 44-30, but winning 47-9 in Arlington last season versus Mike Zimmer’s defense. In franchise history, the Cowboys have never won a game when their opponent scores at least 40 points (0-48-1), something that does not bode well for the way Matt Eberflus’ defense in year one has been susceptible to these types of games.
The Cowboys lost the turnover battle in this game 3-0, as the Lions intercepted a tipped slant pass for Pickens on the very first play of the second half. They cashed in a touchdown, throwing to rookie Isaac TeSlaa who got behind Revel to lead 27-9.
Once the Cowboys rallied all the way back to make it a three-point game, Gibbs ran right through Murray and Wilson again for a touchdown on a drive set up by a Jameson Williams crossing route against man coverage that put him against Markquese Bell. Not only did Detroit expose the mismatch on third down, they got 15 extra yards for roughing the passer on the play.
Thursday night…exposed how much room is left to grow in all three phases for Dallas to be a serious contender.
ESPN
Cowboys coach: Will talk to George Pickens about Sherman post
Dallas Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer says he will have a conversation with George Pickens about the wide receiver’s social media post, which he has since deleted, in response to criticism he received from former All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman on the Prime Video broadcast Thursday.
“I’m aware of what was supposedly put out there,” Schottenheimer said Friday. “I’ve not talked to him yet. I understand it’s been taken down, but I will be talking to him, just checking on him. Again, this is unfortunately things that we deal with in this profession. But I have not spoken to him, but I will.”
Sherman said Pickens looked “uninterested” and “disengaged” during the Cowboys’ 44-30 loss to the Detroit Lions. Pickens caught five passes for 37 yards.
“For myself, personally, you can’t just disappear,” Pickens said after the game while also saying Sherman should have understood the type of coverage he was facing from the Lions, especially after CeeDee Lamb was forced from the game because of a concussion in the third quarter.
The Athletic (paywall)
Is this the right move for Sirianni to back Kevin Patullo?
Keefer: This Philly season is starting to feel a lot like 2023. The vibes aren’t right. The frustration is building. The offensive creativity, let alone cohesion, simply isn’t there. It starts on early downs, where the Eagles consistently find little success. Patullo is an easy scapegoat, but there’s more to this. Maybe Lane Johnson’s eventual return will save them, but I wouldn’t be stunned if the Chargers hand them another loss Monday — assuming Herbert makes it back.
Sando: Sirianni, as an offensive coach, would ideally take over play calling the way Dan Campbell did in Detroit. However, his own experience calling plays during his first season as head coach was not successful; taking over those duties now might not produce the desired results. The Eagles, like the Lions, will be looking for a new offensive coordinator next season. As for Herbert, he should play if he’s able to be effective and can protect himself decently. His team’s playoff hopes depend on his availability. The team is counting on him.
VIDEO: Why the Eagles offense sucks this season
Upcoming opponent
Key points from the episode include:
- J.J. McCarthy’s Return and Development: McCarthy has cleared concussion protocol and is set to start; the focus shifts from mechanics to instinctive play to avoid overthinking, drawing comparisons to high-variance QBs like Josh Allen.
- Kevin O’Connell’s Communication and Coaching: Critique of O’Connell’s platitude-heavy press conferences and reactive approach to QB development, contrasting with successes like elevating Kirk Cousins and Sam Darnold.
- Dallas Turner’s Impressive Growth: The rookie EDGE has a three-game sack streak, tying Vikings records, with improved strength and fundamentals praised by DC Brian Flores for “little things” beyond splash plays.
- Game Preview and Draft Implications: Vikings defense must counter Commanders’ short-pass concepts; a loss could boost draft position to as high as 5th, impacting tiebreakers with teams like the Bengals and Falcons.
NFL league links
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ESPN
Arizona Cardinals QB Kyler Murray out for rest of season
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray will not return for the rest of the season as his foot injury hasn’t progressed to the point where he could play, coach Jonathan Gannon said Friday.
Murray got another opinion on the injury Wednesday. Gannon said it took place out-of-state, which caused the quarterback to be away from the facility for the day. Murray also had more tests done, which factored into the decision for him not to return.
“It wasn’t progressing in a way that we wanted, so we went and got a different opinion, some different people and kind of looked at it, and it’s just not right,” Gannon said.
Syracuse.com
Darius Slay reveals why he didn’t report to Buffalo and one reason will anger Bills fans
Slay, 34, was claimed off waivers by Buffalo on Wednesday following his release from the Pittsburgh Steelers…but Slay chose not to report to the team.
“I don’t feel like packing up and moving again,” Slay told Acho. “I’m 13 years in, like, I done did it. Like, they would have caught me at like 28, 29, I might have been like ‘OK.’ That’s a top organization. They have a lot of great things going. They win, they go to the playoffs, they got a franchise quarterback. So, it wasn’t a bad fit, it just caught me at a bad time.”
Of course, Slay also had to mention Buffalo’s weather as a reason he doesn’t want to play in Buffalo.
“I talked to them,” Slay added. “It was a neutral talk. I just said, “Hey, man. I’m 34. I know ya’ll be watching tape, but I’m trying to relax with my family and kid. I ain’t feel like packing up, moving.’ And then, on top of that – no offense to Buffalo — it’s cold as hell in Buffalo. I’m from the south.”
Discussion topics
The Athletic (paywall)
Why NFL teams want more QBs to skip the draft and stay in school
The crop of eligible quarterbacks was largely uninspiring this season, prompting teams to cross their fingers that these players will return to school to refine their skills. There’s no substitute for experience, and it’s advantageous for all involved if the QBs accumulate snaps in a more controlled environment than the NFL.
“It doesn’t benefit us (in the NFL) if all these guys come out early and aren’t ready,” said an NFL team executive, who was granted anonymity so he could speak openly.
“Why not go play college football and build yourself to get to that level? I think it helps everybody. I think it puts a better product on the field in college. It helps us evaluate them longer, as they get real reps to amass experience before coming to our level.
“It helps our evaluation. It helps their preparation. It helps their maturity. They learn how to lead better. They learn how to handle adversity better.”
In a sense, it’s never been easier to advise players to stay in school. The two Power 5 directors said starting quarterbacks can earn between $1 million and $5 million per season in NIL and marketing opportunities, with projected draft prospects at premium schools earning closer to the higher end of that spectrum.
And since players can transfer more freely, they can seek out better opportunities, coaching or systems to develop weaker areas. Last year, Cam Ward jumped from Washington State to Miami and skyrocketed from a mid-round prospect to the No. 1 pick. The Hurricanes knew the NFL wanted to see Ward featured as an offensive catalyst, sold him on the plan and delivered.
“It’s a lot easier to develop in a college program, a place and an offense you know against college teams and college players — not against pro players who are fighting for their jobs in both practice and games,” a third NFL executive said. “If you don’t play a good game (in college) and this defensive end from Oregon State hits you, OK.
“But if you do that, and it’s Myles Garrett hitting you, that’s just different. And then the next guy next week is going to be out to destroy you. It’s a lot easier to bounce back and handle the growing pains in college than to do it in the NFL.
“You’re getting thrown to the wolves. The NFL is not forgiving.”
Trey Lance, Anthony Richardson, and J.J. McCarthy are recent examples of first-round picks who declared early and got stuck in no-man’s-land at the start of their careers. Lance only played one full season at North Dakota State, which postponed all but one game from its 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so he entered the 2021 draft a full year removed from live action.
There’s never a magic, all-encompassing answer with the draft, especially at quarterback. Returning, like Daniels and Drake Maye chose to do after the 2023 season, prepared both for wildly early success, but it’s anything but a guarantee. It’s entirely plausible Penn State’s Drew Allar and LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier would’ve had better draft stock if they declared in 2025, although it remains to be determined how the extra time in college prepared them for the next step.
Kenny Pickett attempted the third-most collegiate passes of any first-round pick over the past decade and is on his fourth team in four years. But Josh Allen was an unknown commodity at Wyoming, with limited experience, throwing fewer passes in college than McCarthy, and he is the reigning NFL MVP.
For every Peyton Manning, there’s a JaMarcus Russell. For every Dart, there’s a handful of Paxton Lynches. For every Tom Brady, there are dozens upon dozens of sixth-rounders living in obscurity.
