Top teams to watch ahead of the 2025 NFL trade deadline
USA TODAY Sports’ Joe Rivera and Chris Bumbaca break down which teams to keep an eye out for ahead of the November 4th NFL trade deadline.
USA Today Sports has live coverage of the Chiefs vs. Commanders in today’s NFL ‘Monday Night Football.’
The Washington Commanders are looking to get back to .500 during their “Monday Night Football” matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. Will they have their top quarterback at their disposal during the contest?
Jayden Daniels was forced out of the Commanders’ 44-22 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 7 because of a hamstring injury. He did not return to the contest, and Washington coach Dan Quinn clarified the second-year starter wouldn’t have been able to even if the contest had been closer.
That led many to wonder whether Daniels would have to miss additional time because of the injury. He had already missed two games earlier in the season because of a knee injury he suffered at the end of a Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Here’s what to know about Daniels’ status for Week 8 and when he could potentially return to the lineup.
Is Jayden Daniels playing today?
Daniels was ruled out for the Commanders’ Week 8 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs because of his hamstring injury. Marcus Mariota will start in his place.
The good news? Quinn told reporters Daniels’ injury is “not significant” and isn’t expected to sideline Daniels long-term.
Quinn even implied Daniels could have a chance to return to action as soon as next week.
“We knew it wasn’t going to be significant, meaning long, but also not well enough to say, ‘Okay, in six days it’s ready to go based on speed and how you would handle this type of injury,'” Quinn told reporters on Oct. 23. “So all of the week will be focused for him on the rehab in hopes of the following week, so I’ll assess that next week as opposed to some practice and some not, just put all of it, all the time and effort into that.”
Commanders QB depth chart
The Commanders currently have four quarterbacks in their organization, three of whom are healthy. Below is a look at the group’s pecking order.
- Jayden Daniels (injured)
- Marcus Mariota
- Josh Johnson
- Sam Hartman (practice squad)
Mariota is making his third start of the season for the Commanders on Monday. The 31-year-old has posted a 1-1 record thus far while completing 60.3% of his passes for 426 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Johnson will back Mariota up. The 39-year-old has played for 14 different NFL teams during his career dating back to 2008. He has a 1-8 career record as a starter, with most of his action coming during the 2009 season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Hartman, 26, could be called up to the active roster as insurance behind Mariota and Johnson. The 2024 undrafted free agent from Notre Dame has never attempted a pass during a regular-season NFL game.
