Commanders QB Jayden Daniels to start Week 5 at Chargers - ESPN

LOS ANGELES — Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will start Sunday after missing the past two games with a sprained left knee.

Daniels was a full participant in practice all week and said Wednesday he planned to play against the Los Angeles Chargers — a game about 70 miles from his hometown of San Bernardino.

Coach Dan Quinn made it official following the Commanders' practice at the Los Angeles Coliseum. It was a necessary boost for a team coming off a 34-27 loss to the Atlanta Falcons and dealing with multiple injuries to key players.

«He had a great week,» Quinn said.

Washington will play a second consecutive game without two of its top three receivers in Terry McLaurin (quad) and Noah Brown (groin/calf). Brown also missed a Week 3 game vs. the Las Vegas Raiders because of the injury.

Daniels has practiced with a black brace on his left knee and will play with it Sunday, Quinn said.

«I'm not the biggest fan of it but if that's what I have to wear then I'll do anything possible,» Daniels said Wednesday.

It doesn't restrict his movement, a key aspect for Sunday. The Chargers have allowed the third-most yards on quarterback scrambles this season; Daniels led all quarterbacks with 570 yards scrambling as a rookie in 2024.

The Commanders' offense fared well with backup Marcus Mariota, scoring a combined 61 points from scrimmage. In his four games in relief of Daniels over the past two seasons Mariota has thrown for a combined 729 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception.

«He's played about as well as you can play,» offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said. «They're different styles and Jayden is a unique talent, the way he plays, moves, throws. He's generational so any time you get him back out there