Commanders officially have a massive Jayden Daniels problem

Jayden Daniels didn't have many flaws coming out of college. Analysts thought he was the most pro-ready quarterback, putting together an exceptional campaign at LSU to win the Heisman Trophy. After impressing the Washington Commanders throughout their assessments, he became the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.

There was one concern. Experts wondered whether his slender frame, from a dynamic style of play, would increase the risk of injury against elite-level defenders who'll look to knock him out at every turn. Everything went better than expected last season, but cracks have begun to show this time around.

Daniels played through a broken rib last season. He's dealt with a knee sprain and a low-grade hamstring strain in 2025. Things got much worse against the Seattle Seahawks, with the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year sustaining a dislocated elbow that will sideline him for the foreseeable future.

Commanders have to conjure ways to save Jayden Daniels from himself

Head coach Dan Quinn took accountability for leaving Daniels in the firing line when there was no need. But if the Commanders want to maximize the signal-caller's prime years, especially if he signs a megabucks contract extension in the coming years, something has to change.

Several respected pundits, including Mina Kimes and Dan Orlovsky from ESPN, have already highlighted the need for Daniels to adjust his playing style. Taking away his dual-threat capabilities entirely would be foolish, but the Commanders must find a way to limit the damage he is absorbing almost constantly.

Every time Daniels takes off, fans hold their breath. He still slides headfirst at times, which needs to be eradicated from his game urgently. There are also times when the player is actively looking for contact, which is causing unnecessary problems.

Daniels is doing too much. He masked a lot of the team's failings last season, and felt like he had to do the same again this time around. Even facing a 31-point deficit with less than eight minutes remaining against the Seahawks, he kept striving for every yard. Not for the first time since entering the NFL, it became his undoing.

The Commanders should take their time with Daniels. They aren't going to make the playoffs, so shutting him down for the season is possible. The player might not like it, but Dan Quinn and his staff must start showing their authority with Washington's franchise presence under center.

Something has to give. This is a violent business, of course, but this ambitious new era in Washington isn't going to get very far if Daniels spends most of his time watching from the sidelines. Adjustments are needed — whether that's schematically, the personnel around him, or his individual play style — to make sure that the Commanders have him available more often.

Things cannot continue as they are. And the more Daniels gets hurt, the more opposing defenders are going to lay the wood.

It's that simple.