HERTFORDSHIRE, England -- Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn said he needs to see more from quarterback Jayden Daniels before deciding whether he can play Sunday against the Colts. But it helps that they went through a similar situation last season.
Daniels dislocated his left elbow in a Week 2 loss at Dallas and returned to practice Wednesday. He was considered limited during what amounted to a 60-minute jog-through after the team arrived in Hertfordshire earlier in the morning.
Daniels throwing: pic.twitter.com/9OZZMsaBKX
— John Keim (@john_keim) September 30, 2026
"We won't put him out there before he's ready," Quinn said. "That's why it's important to trust the process. But him being back on the field, that's a good step for us."
Indeed it is. Daniels suffered the same injury in Week 9 last season and aggravated it upon his return five weeks later. Washington shut him down for the final four games of 2025.
But the team is optimistic that he'll return soon, whether against the Colts or potentially against the New York Giants a week later.
The Commanders (1-2) beat Seattle behind Marcus Mariota, who will start again Sunday if Daniels doesn't return.
On Wednesday, Daniels was wearing a black brace on his elbow that he'll keep on for the rest of the season. The brace leaves his arm slightly bent.
He took snaps from center during warmups, and he participated in footwork drills that ended with him throwing the ball, using his familiar motion. Daniels was smiling while wearing a baseball cap turned backward -- similar to his coach.
Quinn said Daniels would get more reps as the week progresses. Quinn said the timetable for his return will be centered on "the functionality and strength, the pain tolerance for him. He already has a high one."
The dislocated elbow in 2025 was Daniels' third injury that season; he also missed two games with a knee injury and another because of his hamstring. After his latest injury, Daniels visited multiple specialists in New York and Los Angeles who told him he could return without surgery, but surgery remains a possibility at some point.
Quinn has said they will rely on medical advice to help determine when Daniels is ready to play in a game.
"His drive is always strong to return to play," Quinn said. "Any athlete would probably tell you when you're going through something a second time there's a known entity of what the road looks like. We all feel that way. He does know what that process looks like and the mobility and the strength. There's a known entity of when you're ready."
Washington remains banged up. The Commanders already ruled out two starters: safety Nick Cross (internal injury) and guard Sam Cosmi (concussion). Neither traveled to England. Also, linebacker Frankie Luvu (groin) and tight end Chig Okonkwo (hamstring) will practice this week, but their status for Sunday remains uncertain.
Running back Rachaad White is dealing with a shoulder injury that Quinn said still requires treatment and would keep him out of Wednesday's workout. The Commanders signed veteran running back Austin Ekeler earlier in the week.