The Las Vegas Raiders are looking to rebound after a Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Pete Carroll and his team will head to the nation’s capital to take on the Washington Commanders.
Las Vegas might face a Washington squad without star quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels injured his left knee last Thursday during the team’s defeat to the Green Bay Packers, leaving his status for Sunday’s matchup against the Raiders uncertain.
Washington need a bounce-back win like the Raiders do. However, do they want to risk their signal caller’s health for it? CBS Sports NFL analyst Emory Hunt believes that with Maxx Crosby on the other side, the Commanders should consider sitting out Daniels, who could be limited with his mobility.
“You have to consider the opponent they’re facing—the Raiders,” Hunt said on the September 17 edition of “CBS Sports HQ.” “Maxx Crosby will be on the other side, trying to attack Jayden Daniels, knowing he’s gimpy on one leg.
“For a knee injury like this, it’s about comfort. If it’s a sprain and not a tear, it depends on how comfortable he feels moving. His game relies on going east and west and showcasing agility, so it could be difficult for him to play at full speed.”
Commanders Told to Lean on Backup Against Raiders
If Daniels cannot go against the Silver and Black, Washington will turn to Marcus Mariota. Moreover, the Commanders will need more than the veteran backup to beat a Raiders defense, which has been pretty good, as they have not allowed over 20 points in the first two games of the season.
We may see him sit, and if so, Marcus Mariota can hold the fort for at least a week. He played well last year when given the opportunity. Washington needs to focus on improving its running game. If they can’t run the football, it won’t matter whether it’s Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, or Doug Williams—offensive success will be limited.
Commanders Will Be Cautious With Jayden Daniels
Like Las Vegas, Washington are looking for a bounce-back win, and Daniels is eager to play. Still, Quinn and the coaching staff are taking a cautious approach. With it being only Week 3, they don’t want to risk their star quarterback making the injury worse and missing more time.
“We’re going through that process,“ Quinn said (h/t Scott Abraham of 7News DC). “That’s him as a competitor, but we also recognize the importance of the person, the player, what he means to the franchise. So we’re also going to be smart, not just fast, in this assessment. But this is a player that’s absolutely wanting to do everything all the time.
“So it was a good start to the week for us, throwing the movements at the position. So I know we’ve talked a little bit about return to play, but there are position-specific skills that you do for each one. So he hit those today, which was a good start. And then, like I said, I’ll give you the final update on Friday.”
Commanders Get Clear Jayden Daniels Take Before Raiders Game