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The Washington Commanders' 2025 season was, well, a disaster. After winning 12 games in 2024 and reaching the NFC Championship for the first time in three decades, the Commanders could not replicate that success in 2025.
The biggest reason they failed in 2025 was due to injury. Jayden Daniels missed over half of the season with various injuries. Austin Ekeler missed all but two games with an Achilles tear. No. 1 wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who almost never misses time, missed several games due to injury. Several defensive players missed the majority of the season or missed games here and there, making consistency difficult.
This is why GM Adam Peters had to make the right player personnel and coaching changes this offseason. Injuries aside, the Commanders did not play well without their starters, so adding skilled depth players was a top priority. One thing they did not need to do, however, was seek out a new starting quarterback. Peters brought in some depth pieces, but Daniels is still the guy, something ESPN's Louis Riddick agrees with.
When asked how he views Daniels in year three, Riddick replies, "He's a franchise quarterback, it's as simple as that."
"When I went to see him down in Baton Rouge," Riddick continued, "and watched him throw to Malik (Nabers) and Brian (Thomas Jr.) and all those guys that year, it was [a] slam dunk. That was the dude. This is the guy, and he showed you that. You're right, it's nothing but injuries that really derailed him. Jayden Daniels hasn't lost a lick of anything in terms of what ultimately he has in his bag to make him one of the very best quarterbacks in the NFL. I expect him to return to that, provided his health is fine, and everything else around him doesn't just fall apart, which I don't anticipate that."
Through seven games in 2025, Daniels completed 114 passes for 1,262 yards and eight touchdowns with just three interceptions. He was on pace to, at minimum, reach what he did in 2024, but more likely, he would have surpassed it. Unfortunately, because of his injuries and the injuries to other players on the team, the Commanders could not make that happen.
However, it's a new season now, and 2026 already looks to be better than 2025. Daniels is healthy. The running backs' room is full. The wide receivers' room could use some love. The defense looks completely different. And the Commanders are ready to get back to business. If everyone remains healthy, or if replacements can at least hold their own when needed, the Commanders are poised to make another postseason run. If.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Louis Riddick defends Jayden Daniels
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The biggest reason they failed in 2025 was due to injury. Jayden Daniels missed over half of the season with various injuries. Austin Ekeler missed all but two games with an Achilles tear. No. 1 wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who almost never misses time, missed several games due to injury. Several defensive players missed the majority of the season or missed games here and there, making consistency difficult.
This is why GM Adam Peters had to make the right player personnel and coaching changes this offseason. Injuries aside, the Commanders did not play well without their starters, so adding skilled depth players was a top priority. One thing they did not need to do, however, was seek out a new starting quarterback. Peters brought in some depth pieces, but Daniels is still the guy, something ESPN's Louis Riddick agrees with.
When asked how he views Daniels in year three, Riddick replies, "He's a franchise quarterback, it's as simple as that."
"When I went to see him down in Baton Rouge," Riddick continued, "and watched him throw to Malik (Nabers) and Brian (Thomas Jr.) and all those guys that year, it was [a] slam dunk. That was the dude. This is the guy, and he showed you that. You're right, it's nothing but injuries that really derailed him. Jayden Daniels hasn't lost a lick of anything in terms of what ultimately he has in his bag to make him one of the very best quarterbacks in the NFL. I expect him to return to that, provided his health is fine, and everything else around him doesn't just fall apart, which I don't anticipate that."
Through seven games in 2025, Daniels completed 114 passes for 1,262 yards and eight touchdowns with just three interceptions. He was on pace to, at minimum, reach what he did in 2024, but more likely, he would have surpassed it. Unfortunately, because of his injuries and the injuries to other players on the team, the Commanders could not make that happen.
However, it's a new season now, and 2026 already looks to be better than 2025. Daniels is healthy. The running backs' room is full. The wide receivers' room could use some love. The defense looks completely different. And the Commanders are ready to get back to business. If everyone remains healthy, or if replacements can at least hold their own when needed, the Commanders are poised to make another postseason run. If.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Louis Riddick defends Jayden Daniels
Continue reading...
