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Had quarterback Jayden Daniels been healthy last season, it’s possible the Washington Commanders might have made another deep playoff run.
Instead, Daniels missed more than half the season after suffering a knee sprain, a hamstring strain, an elbow dislocation, and a separate elbow sprain.
“It left a bitter taste in my mouth,” Daniels said, via John Keim of ESPN. “I mean, it sucked. … [It was] a miserable feeling to not go out and do what I do on a daily basis and having setbacks.”
Because of the beating Daniels took last season, the Commanders plan to shake things up offensively in 2026 in an effort to better support Daniels, according to Keim.
“Washington hopes the change in offensive systems will help redirect Daniels’ career trajectory,” Keim reported. “The Commanders mutually parted ways with former coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and hired David Blough, an assistant quarterbacks coach the past two years.
Jayden Daniels #5 reacts after a touchdown from Jacory Croskey-Merritt #22 of the Washington Commanders during the third quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on October 05, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
“That will lead to Daniels being under center more, according to Blough and coach Dan Quinn. In his first two seasons, Daniels took 32 snaps from under center while attempting 18 passes (completing 13). But during Wednesday’s OTA session, Daniels, wearing bright yellow cleats, took a heavier load of snaps from under center than he had in the past.”
Those changes are not only good news for Daniels but for Commanders fans hoping to see him get through another season fully healthy.
Kingsbury took some heat last season for the amount of plays in which Daniels wasn’t under center. Washington ran a lot of Shotgun and RPO plays that had Daniels rolling out from the pocket, throwing on the run, and opening up his body to big hits.
And when those plays broke down, Daniels used his feet to make plays.
But keeping the 25-year-old QB out of harm’s way is priority No. 1 for Quinn and Blough. More snaps under center presumably means more time being protected by the offensive line and more time to make plays.
Commanders fans know all too well how quickly a reckless game plan and subjecting a quarterback to unnecessary punishment can shorten that QB’s career. But the good news is Quinn recognized it early and wants to keep Daniels from becoming the next Robert Griffin III.
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Instead, Daniels missed more than half the season after suffering a knee sprain, a hamstring strain, an elbow dislocation, and a separate elbow sprain.
“It left a bitter taste in my mouth,” Daniels said, via John Keim of ESPN. “I mean, it sucked. … [It was] a miserable feeling to not go out and do what I do on a daily basis and having setbacks.”
Because of the beating Daniels took last season, the Commanders plan to shake things up offensively in 2026 in an effort to better support Daniels, according to Keim.
“Washington hopes the change in offensive systems will help redirect Daniels’ career trajectory,” Keim reported. “The Commanders mutually parted ways with former coordinator Kliff Kingsbury and hired David Blough, an assistant quarterbacks coach the past two years.
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Jayden Daniels #5 reacts after a touchdown from Jacory Croskey-Merritt #22 of the Washington Commanders during the third quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on October 05, 2025 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
“That will lead to Daniels being under center more, according to Blough and coach Dan Quinn. In his first two seasons, Daniels took 32 snaps from under center while attempting 18 passes (completing 13). But during Wednesday’s OTA session, Daniels, wearing bright yellow cleats, took a heavier load of snaps from under center than he had in the past.”
Those changes are not only good news for Daniels but for Commanders fans hoping to see him get through another season fully healthy.
Kingsbury took some heat last season for the amount of plays in which Daniels wasn’t under center. Washington ran a lot of Shotgun and RPO plays that had Daniels rolling out from the pocket, throwing on the run, and opening up his body to big hits.
And when those plays broke down, Daniels used his feet to make plays.
But keeping the 25-year-old QB out of harm’s way is priority No. 1 for Quinn and Blough. More snaps under center presumably means more time being protected by the offensive line and more time to make plays.
Commanders fans know all too well how quickly a reckless game plan and subjecting a quarterback to unnecessary punishment can shorten that QB’s career. But the good news is Quinn recognized it early and wants to keep Daniels from becoming the next Robert Griffin III.
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