Similar to last season, the Washington Commanders are dealing with a lot of injuries this month. The good news is quarterback Jayden Daniels is healthy.
However, that doesn’t mean injuries won’t have an impact on Daniels’ availability when the team faces the Detroit Lions in Week 2 of the NFL preseason.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn admitted as much Thursday during his final press conference before the game.
“Once I know the health of everybody else around, then I’ll have a better sense for it,” Quinn responded when asked about Daniels playing.
Daniels didn’t play in the team’s preseason opener last Friday against the Miami Dolphins. The Commanders will visit the Lions on Saturday, August 22 for Week 2 of the exhibition campaign.
Kickoff will be at 12 pm ET.
Will Jayden Daniels Play in Week 2 of the NFL Preseason?
GettyWashington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn briefly discussed Thursday whether quarterback Jayden Daniels would play in Week 2 of the NFL preseason.
On Thursday, SI on Commanders’ Philip Hughes did a great job breaking down the dilemma Quinn faces with Daniels and the preseason.
“Without Tunsil and Allegretti, and with some big questions at center, the argument could be made that being safe is better than losing your franchise quarterback to injury and being sorry about it later,” wrote Hughes.
“On the other hand, Daniels needs actual live game time in David Blough’s new offense to make sure he understands the ins and outs, even if he looks like he’s mastered it in practice. Quinn left it open, saying a good number of starters would play.”
At the end of the day, it’s football. There’s always a risk for injury. If other starters will play, then it is probably best Daniels plays too.
Of course, that’s assuming the Commanders can properly protect the quarterback. As Hughes noted, Washington is now missing both its starting left tackle and center.
Preseason Injuries Piling Up for Commanders
GettyDan Quinn and the Washington Commanders are dealing with a plethora of injuries at training camp.
The Commanders aren’t just dealing with injuries along the offensive line.
While Quinn was brief talking about whether Daniels would play Saturday, the head coach spent a bulk of his Thursday press conference providing injury updates.
Center Nick Allegretti left Wednesday’s practice with calf tightness. He will not play Saturday. Neither will running back Rachaad White nor cornerback Trey Amos.
Quinn confirmed defensive lineman Johnny Newton underwent successful surgery and will miss “significant time.”
Those are the injury highlights, or lowlights, if you will, with the Commanders entering Week 2 of the preseason. Hughes reported Thursday the team has 15 players dealing with injuries going into the weekend.
The list includes backup quarterback Marcus Mariota.
Yes, Quinn wants his football team to get valuable August repetitions. On a certain level, teams just can’t control injuries.
Then again, at a certain point, it wouldn’t be shocking if Quinn essentially said, ‘enough is enough’ and tried to bubble wrap his stars as much as possible.
Obviously, Daniels is the top candidate for the bubble wrap if the Commanders go that route. That’s even more the case with Mariota sidelined.
Commanders’ Dan Quinn Fires 1 Line on Jayden Daniels Playing in Preseason Week 2