Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) is helped off the field after an injury during the second half against the Seattle Seahawks at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland on Nov. 2, 2025.

When Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a significant-looking left elbow injury during his team's Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, many feared his season might be over.

However, the NFL's reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year got a better-than-expected prognosis on the dislocation to his non-throwing elbow. The Commanders are planning for him to return before the end of the season as a result. It's just a matter of when he might be able to do so.

Daniels is expected to return to Commanders practice coming out of the bye. Does that mean he'll be able to suit up in Week 13 against the Denver Broncos?

Here's what to know about Daniels' status for Week 13 and going forward.

When will Jayden Daniels return?

Commanders coach Dan Quinn told reporters during a Nov. 24 news conference Daniels was set to return to practice ahead of the team's Week 13 game against the Denver Broncos.

However, Quinn does not expect Daniels to be ready to play in that contest.

"He has not been cleared for contact, so he'll probably be unlikely to play," Quinn said. "But man, it's good to get started and get the return to play going. That's a big deal for us."

Quinn did not provide a timeline for Daniels' return but did note he thinks "it's important" for Daniels to return to play in 2025 to continue developing with live, on-field reps.

Washington's decision not to place Daniels on IR ahead of its Week 10 game against the Detroit Lions indicated the team believes the 24-year-old quarterback may be able to return to action without having to miss the requisite four games required by an IR stint.

That said, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler noted during Week 12 that while Daniels could potentially return as early as Week 13, the team was preparing for him to miss five to six weeks in case his recovery takes longer than expected. The longer end of that timeline would put him on track to return in Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles at the latest, barring any setbacks.

Commanders QB depth chart

The Commanders have four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster and practice squad, including Daniels. Below is a look at the pecking order with in the team's quarterback room:

  1. Jayden Daniels (injured)
  2. Marcus Mariota
  3. Josh Johnson
  4. Sam Hartman (practice squad)

Mariota has started all five games Daniels has missed in 2025 due to injury. The No. 2 overall pick from the 2015 NFL Draft has posted a 1-4 record while completing 65.7% of his passes for 1,065 yards, seven touchdowns and five interceptions.

As long as Daniels remains out, Mariota will be backed up by the 39-year-old Johnson, who has played for an NFL record 14 different teams since being selected in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He has a career record of 1-8 and last made a start for the Baltimore Ravens in 2021.

Hartman signed with the Commanders as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame in 2024. He hasn't yet played a regular-season snap at the NFL level.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When will Jayden Daniels return? Latest injury updates on Commanders QB

Reporting by Jacob Camenker, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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