The Washington Commanders plan to start quarterback Jayden Daniels against the New York Giants in Week 5, putting the dual-threat passer back under center after a two-game absence.
Daniels dislocated his left, non-throwing elbow in Week 2 at Dallas, the same elbow he dislocated last November. He sat out Washington’s last two games, both starts for Marcus Mariota. That option is no longer available.
Mariota sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee Sunday in London against the Indianapolis Colts, the same ligament he injured in the preseason opener, and coach Dan Quinn said he will work off to the side this week. Quinn was also direct about the starter.
“The goal is for him to have a full week of practice, a full week and start on
Sunday,” Quinn told reporters.
Giants coach John Harbaugh said on Monday that they were already preparing as if Daniels will play.
“We’re going to have to prepare for Jayden,” Harbaugh said. “Until they say he’s not playing, we’re assuming he’s playing and we’ll be preparing for all the things he does, as if he was 100 percent healthy. They’re not going to put him out there if he’s not ready to play.”
Asked what changes when Daniels is on the field and healthy, Harbaugh did not hedge.
“He’s different. He’s a premier quarterback who can operate just in all those modalities,” Harbaugh said. “He can RPO. He’s quarterback-driven. It’s drop-back pass. It’s under center. It’s under center, play-action, downhill run game. He does it all. He’s a very accurate passer. Outside throwing lanes, especially accurate, which is tough. Nice touch underneath. He’s proven himself to be a very, very dangerous quarterback, obviously. So, yeah, premier guy and it looks like we’re going to get him, so we’re going to have to be at our best.”
The history against New York supports that view. Daniels is 3-0 in his career against the Giants, completing 57 of 81 passes (70.4 percent) for 668 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, a 107.4 passer rating. He has added 147 rushing yards on 30 carries, 4.9 per attempt. That averages 222.7 passing yards and 49.0 rushing yards per game.
The Commanders are 1-3 and went 1-1 with Mariota after the elbow injury. Sunday’s loss in London ended with rookie Athan Kaliakmanis under center. For the Giants, the Week 5 defensive assignment is the version of Washington's offense built around Daniels.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Commanders plan to start QB Jayden Daniels vs. Giants in Week 5
