Jayden Daniels Faced Tough Questions Earlier This Season About Knee Injury
Jayden Daniels faced tough questions earlier this season about his lingering knee injury. By Monday night, those concerns were gone, replaced by new scrutiny over a costly late-game turnover. Daniels fumbled in the final minutes against the Chicago Bears, setting up a comeback loss for the Washington Commanders.
This week, he didn’t dodge responsibility. He took ownership of the mistake and shifted the focus toward improvement in Week 7. “But it was on me. So I take accountability,” Daniels said.
Jayden Daniels Reflects on Turnover and Slow Starts
Aside from the turnover, Daniels’ performance against Chicago was his strongest of the year. He threw three touchdown passes, overcoming an early interception, and looked like the player Washington expected when he returned from his knee issue. That’s why both he and the team want to make sure the fumble becomes just a footnote to a solid outing.
“We feel we can put up points,” Daniels said. “But we just got to be better with the details and execution, so we don’t have slow starts.”
Slow starts have been an ongoing problem for the Commanders. They’ve trailed by double digits in the first half of each of their last three games and have been outscored 36-14 in the opening quarter so far in the 2025 season. Daniels played only in the most recent game but acknowledged that the offense must set the tone early if Washington wants to stay competitive in the NFC.
Commanders Look to Bounce Back Against Cowboys
The Commanders have an opportunity to turn things around in Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas ranks last in yards allowed, passing yards allowed, and third-down defense through six weeks, which could give Washington’s offense the chance to get into rhythm quickly.
Washington also received good news on Wednesday. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin returned to practice after missing time with a quadriceps injury. A return this weekend would give Daniels a significant boost.
However, the team suffered another setback at the same position. ESPN’s senior NFL insider Adam Schefter reported, “Commanders placed WR Noah Brown on injured reserve, sidelining him for a minimum of four games.”
Fan Reactions
Fans immediately reacted to the news on social media. One fan wrote, “Hopefully Terry McLaurin can come back this week. They really need him.” Another added, “Tough break for the Commanders. Noah Brown was just starting to find rhythm in that offense. They’ll miss his physicality and reliability on third downs.”
Looking Ahead
The Commanders know the margin for error is shrinking. Daniels’ positive showing against Chicago gave them reason for optimism, but cleaning up execution and avoiding early deficits will be critical if they want to stay in the playoff race.
“We’ve got to be more consistent as a team—offense, defense, special teams,” Daniels emphasized.
The Commanders face the Cowboys on Sunday, October 19, at 4:25 p.m. ET at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game will air on FOX.
https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/washington-commanders/jayden-daniels-owns-costly-fumble/