NFL Insider Talks Commanders' Injury Concerns Ahead of Week 5

The Washington Commanders must come to an understanding, quickly, about what must define the remainder of this NFL season and what the primary goal of this franchise must be above and beyond all else.

Wins and losses matter, of course, but let’s be real, this was not a very good football roster before injuries beset it, a loss Sunday would drop them to 0-3 in the NFC East already and when a seventh-round draft pick out of Rutgers is already playing the bulk of a game at quarterback in early October, this probably ain’t your year. As much as fans don’t want to hear it, there are overarching organizational goals that matter even more than the end result of any three hours of football on a Sunday, and for Washington it’s finding a way to get elite quarterback Jayden Daniels through the next three months without another massive injury.

With trusted back-up Marcus Mariota now out indefinitely with an injury suffered in an ugly loss to the Colts in London, and Daniels (dislocated elbow) already clamoring to get back on the field, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him face the Giants in something of a must-win game in Week 5. And Daniels is unquestionably capable of athletic heights few NFL players can attain and his rookie season in 2024 was historic. But he’s been more injured than not since then, and head coach Dan Quinn is on very thin ice, and finding a way to navigate Daniels through his third NFL campaign without further incident means everything, with him eligible for a contract extension in 2027.

The Commanders must address the issue holistically, there must be a pairing of personnel and scheme in order to mitigate injury risk as much as possible and everyone from the trainers to the low-level assistants to young offensive play caller David Blough (especially Blough) must buy in completely to this concept, even if it makes the game-day product unappealing and even if it looks decidedly old school.

"Look, they have to keep this kid healthy, or at least do everything within their power to keep him healthy," said one long-time NFL personnel executive who has watched the Commanders film closely. "Sometimes, a guy is just injury prone. It’s football and quarterbacks get hurt. But they need to prioritize a game plan to help this kid out.

"They can’t come out here and act like they built a great offensive line. Nobody over there can say they did everything they could to invest in the run game. They couldn’t have used (Seattle free-agent running back) Kenneth Walker? Look what he’s done for (All Pro QB Patrick) Mahomes coming off his knee surgery? Washington couldn’t have done that?

"The left tackle (Laremy Tunsil) going to IR, that’s a big blow. So what are they going to do when (Daniels) comes back this week? Are they going to keep the game plan simple? Are they going to make sure the ball comes out quickly?

"Are they going to be willing to run the ball, just to run the ball, because of what it does for the health of the quarterback? If they aren’t committed to running the ball, he’s going to get hurt again."

Washington stands just 17th in the NFL in rushing percentage this season. They have been trailing quite a bit, which makes it difficult to stick with the run at times, but, again, overarching goals. They are averaging 4.2/rush which is league average, but the team is just 20th in the NFL in pressure rate allowed (38%) and Daniels tends to cling to the ball to try to make a play.

It’s been a toxic combination and certainly bad luck has been a factor, but you also make your own luck. Daniels needs to be protected, designed runs for him are probably too risky too often, and getting through this season with his offseason not compromised by another surgery means more than anything else. He’s played in just nine of Washington’s last 21 games.

"They’ve got to show more conviction to stick with the run and more max protections and an emphasis on getting him through games," said another experienced personnel executive who also keeps close tabs on the Commanders. "This kid, he’s built more like a basketball player than a football player. It’s a very slight build; he doesn’t even have the core and the trunk of a guy like Lamar (Jackson, Ravens MVP QB).

"I love this kid, I loved him coming out (of college). But it’s a different package, now, and they have to be fully committed to some things if this is going to work. He can’t keep missing all this time."

A further major injury would further cloud contract extension talks, too, although people around the league believe this ownership group, after watching Daniels lift the entire franchise in his first season, is going to reinvest in him. The same can’t be said for this coaching staff, especially unless much changes quickly.