Daniels burst onto the scene as a rookie in 2024, earning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors by throwing for 3,568 yards and 25 touchdowns while adding 891 rushing yards and six rushing scores. The Commanders went 12-5 that year, capped by road wins at Tampa Bay and Detroit, and he delivered a multi-touchdown performance in Week 16 against Philadelphia (24-for-39, 258 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT) with 81 rushing yards.
Earlier this offseason, Daniels revealed he played through cracked ribs and other nagging injuries during his rookie year, a disclosure that reinforced the perception of him as a franchise quarterback capable of elevating the team when healthy.
The 2025 season quickly turned challenging. A knee sprain in Week 2 cost him two games, followed by a Week 7 hamstring issue. Two weeks later, he suffered a dislocated elbow against Seattle, missed a game, and returned in Week 14 against Minnesota only to re-aggravate the elbow and be ruled out for the remainder of the season.
Beyond the health scare, Daniels’ high-risk play style—refusing to slide and frequently taking contact—has fueled questions about his long-term durability in the NFL, where protecting the quarterback is increasingly critical for sustained success.
With Kliff Kingsbury out and former quarterback coach David Blough stepping into the play-calling role, Washington could lean more on the rushing attack to protect Daniels. The 2025 data showed the offense favoring rushing—about 15 more rushing plays than passes—and a backfield committee that could be re-emphasized to preserve the quarterback, a strategy sometimes associated with the Ravens’ run-heavy approach.
The overarching question remains: can Daniels deliver consistent, elite-level play if he stays healthy? If he does, the Commanders might consider the fifth-year option to lock him in; if not, the organization could be forced to pursue a different franchise quarterback in the near term.
