After missing seven games from an elbow injury in 2025, panic set in for Commanders fans when QB Jayden Daniels injured his left elbow once again vs. the Cowboys in Week 2.
However, Washington has not placed Daniels on injured reserve, and he was a limited participant at practice last week. After backup QB Marcus Mariota suffered an MCL sprain in Week 4’s 30-13 loss vs. the Colts, the latest Jayden Daniels injury update becomes even more key for Week 5’s divisional battle with the Giants.
Below, we’ll dive into the latest Jayden Daniels injury update and when he could be set to return from the elbow injury, impacting Giants vs. Commanders picks on PrizePicks.
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Jayden Daniels Injury Update: When Is Daniels Back From Elbow Injury?
Following three limited appearances at practice last week, paired with Daniels saying his elbow brace does not affect his throwing, the Commanders’ QB seemed close to returning for Week 4’s game vs. the Colts in London.
He was officially ruled out on Friday ahead of Sunday’s contest, but good news arrived ahead of Week 5’s clash with the Giants.
Mike Garafolo of ESPN suggested Daniels is on track to play this week. Further, NFL reporter Gary Myers said on Monday that Daniels is expected to “get all the reps this week” in preparation for Week 5’s contest.
Wednesday is a key date for Daniels’ chance to play, as it marks the Commanders’ first day of practice leading up to Week 5. If Daniels appears as a full participant in any practice this week, assuming there’s no setback, Washington’s signal-caller is on track to return against the NFC East’s leader, the 3-1 Giants.
Jayden Daniels Injury Impact on Giants vs. Commanders Picks for PrizePicks
As of this writing, Jayden Daniels’ full projections for the Giants vs. Commanders are not yet live on PrizePicks. Users can currently select More (Demon) or Less (Goblin) for 1.5 pass TDs from Daniels vs. the Giants.
We’ve only seen Daniels for one full appearance this season, as he posted 39 snaps with a 54.9% snap rate before suffering his dislocated elbow in Week 2. In a full start against the Eagles in Week 1, Daniels totaled 164 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, and 31 rushing yards in a 24-22 loss.
During last week’s practices, Daniels was wearing a bulky brace on his left elbow. That’s led to questions around how the brace impacts his throwing mechanics, which he said had minimal impact.
However, Daniels also said he can’t extend his arm all the way. That could have a big impact on his ability to carry the ball, and that’s where he’s left a huge impact by tallying 12 carries for 100 rushing yards (8.3 YPC) over two games.
Through four games, the Giants have given up only 33 rushing yards vs. QBs (fifth-fewest), per Pro Football Reference. Plus, New York’s front seven has plenty of speed with EDGE Abdul Carter and LB Arvell Reese.
Carter comes off a strong performance with 6 pressures and 3 QB hits, via Pro Football Focus, while Reese had a breakout performance by logging 9 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT, and 3 PBUs.
If he’s active, there could be an early blueprint for Daniels to stay in the pocket and rack up passing attempts. The Giants have allowed a 48.1% dropback success rate (21st), per RBSDM, and the Commanders’ offensive line can protect Daniels thanks to a 58% pass block win rate (third), via ESPN.
Washington WR Terry McLaurin (hamstring) is another key injury to watch this week. If Daniels returns alongside a healthy receiving corps, the Commanders offense should improve from Week 4’s 5.6 yards per passing attempt.
According to PrizePicks, Washington is a 3.5-point favorite for the spread vs. the Giants. Commanders QB Athan Kaliakmanis will likely start if Daniels and Mariota are out.
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After appearing in three practices ahead of Week 4, Jayden Daniels seems on track to return from his elbow injury for Week 5’s clash with the Giants. However, Daniels’ elbow brace could impact his ability to run the ball against an athletic Giants defense.
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