Commanders' Jayden Daniels to return against Vikings - ESPN

ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, who hasn't played since dislocating his left elbow Nov. 9, will start Sunday, coach Dan Quinn said Friday.

Daniels, who was a full participant in practice Thursday and Friday, will face the NFL's fifth-rated pass defense in Minnesota (4-8). The Commanders (3-9) have lost seven consecutive games.

Quinn said it was a group decision to start Daniels this week, a group that included the medical staff and Daniels himself. Quinn said they did a lot of post-practice work with contact and, he said, «the throwing part, he's been on that the whole time. That's looked as sharp as ever.»

He also said it was important for Daniels to play again considering that there are five games remaining and that he's only in his second season.

«It's important for him, for his teammates,» Quinn said. «All these [games] matter. As he's developing, there are certain things he has to work on, too, to be as competitive and take care of things.»

Daniels has only played in parts of six games this season because of multiple injuries. He missed two games with a sprained left knee, which was hit at the end of a scramble in Week 2 vs. Green Bay. He missed one game after injuring his right hamstring on a play in the pocket in Week 7 vs. Dallas.

Then, in a Week 9 game vs. Seattle, Daniels scrambled after faking a handoff and eschewing a pass while trailing 38-7 with just over seven minutes left in the game. When tackled, he braced his fall with his left elbow, which got bent backward.

X-rays were negative and an MRI revealed no structural damage, fueling hope for his return.

Daniels, last season's NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has thrown for 1,184 yards, with eight touchdowns and two