Jayden Daniels' injury prognosis could determine the Commanders' fate in 2024

Jayden Daniels has passed his toughest test of the campaign so far with flying colors. He kept the Washington Commanders competitive with the Baltimore Ravens and was far from the biggest catalyst in their downfall. Winning is all that matters to the quarterback, but that was undoubtedly a bright spot in this matchup.

Daniels shows a steely determination during and after the game. He knows that the commanders can take on almost anyone if they fire on all cylinders. Bouncing back in the face of adversity is something Washington has already done this season with the No. 2 under center. They were looking for something similar at home to what the Carolina Panthers did in Week 7.

The Commanders had a great chance to win, especially given the many injuries Carolina head coach Dave Canales was dealing with. As it turned out, Daniels' time on the field was extremely short.

The Heisman Trophy winner suffered a rib injury on Washington's first drive of the game. Daniels tried to continue but was too uncomfortable. The commanders had him x-rayed in the locker room and eventually ruled him out. That was the right decision considering how big the opposition was in Week 7, whether he was fit to play or not.

Daniels' mother and ESPN's Jeremy Fowler offered hope that this was nothing too serious. Head coach Dan Quinn had nothing more to add after the game, but things should become clearer once Washington's new prized possession undergoes further testing on Monday.

“I can't give you an update on Jayden, but I will as soon as we find out. We will do some more testing tomorrow (Monday) and then give you an update when we meet in the afternoon.” But I don't have an answer to everyone else asking the same question. I just wanted to make sure I was clear about this.

– Dan Quinn via USA Today

Everyone involved with the franchise will be waiting with bated breath for positive news. Commanders are at a high point for the first time in years. Any extended absence from Daniels would be a devastating blow to the team's chances, despite Marcus Mariota's encouraging performance in Week 7.

Washington invested heavily in Daniels this offseason, taking him No. 2 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. They were convinced that he had the qualities and character necessary to tear this storied organization apart and bring it back into contention. His start has been nothing short of phenomenal, so they can ill afford any setbacks in a potential NFC East title game in their immediate future.

Daniels holds the fate of the franchise in his hands. Hopefully the news is positive and the signal caller doesn't have to miss any time. A lost game isn't the end of the world, although it will be a blow to CBS after Washington's game against the Chicago Bears reached its prime late-afternoon timeslot.

With a score of 5:2, the commanders have some leeway. Mariota is serviceable, but he won't have to contend with the Panthers' woeful defense again. Daniels is the glue that holds this ambitious project together. Expectations would change immediately if the forecast is not good.

We keep our fingers crossed for positive developments in the coming hours.

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