Ability to practice will determine Jayden Daniels's potential return next week

Published October 4, 2026 11:07 PM Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota is believed to have an MCL sprain. That increases the urgency to get starter Jayden Daniels back from a dislocated elbow.The Commanders are hopeful, we’re told, that Daniels will be able to play next weekend against the Giants.One key factor will be Daniels’s ability to fully participate in practice. He got some team reps this week, when he was limited in practice on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday.If neither Daniels nor Mariota can go, seventh-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis will get his first career start. It was a little rough at first, but a 47-yard touchdown pass to receiver Treylon Burks cut the score to 17-13 in the third quarter.It was all Colts after that, dropping the Commanders to 1-3. Sunday’s game against the 3-1 Giants becomes critical to any effort by the Commanders to turn things around.