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When is Jayden Daniels coming back? Will Jayden Daniels play again this season? Read about Jayden Daniels' return date and injury updates for 2026.
The Washington Commanders pulled off a season-saving upset last Sunday with a 33-31 win over the reigning Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks. The sky was falling after a rough 0-2 start and a laundry list of key injuries, with Jayden Daniels at the top.
The Commanders are heading to London with momentum, an opportunity to be .500 heading into Week 5, and their franchise quarterback fighting to get back to the field this week. The vibes have flipped in the Nation's Capital, and Daniels' return is looming.
When is Daniels coming back? Can he make his return in Week 4? Let's dive in!
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Jayden Daniels Injury Update for Fantasy Football
There was speculation that Jayden Daniels' season was over after a gruesome elbow dislocation in Week 2, but days later, he has an opportunity to play in Week 4 against the Colts in London.
News slowly trickled out late last week that Daniels avoided season-ending surgery and his absence from the field could be brief. Daniels didn’t play in last week's win over the Seahawks but made the team flight overseas.
Recent reports indicate that there is an outside chance that Daniels will be able to suit up for Sunday, and he has been throwing with a brace on his left arm at practice
Head coach Dan Quinn said that Daniels will be a limited participant in Wednesday practice and has taken a “good step” in his recovery, according to John Keim of ESPN.
Daniels throwing: https://t.co/9OZZMsaBKX
— John Keim (@john_keim) September 30, 2026
“As we’re working through the week, he’ll get more reps…As we get into Thursday and Friday, we’ll see what that load looks like,” Quinn told reporters. “And then by Friday we’ll have a definite determination of where we’re at.”
The Commanders will not roll out their franchise quarterback “too soon” or before he is ready, but his return would be a morale boost for the team, fans, and fantasy managers. While the Commanders have left the door open for Daniels to return this week, it’s more likely he returns to the field next week. The team hosts division rival New York Giants in Week 5.
However, the team could opt to hold Daniels out until after their Week 7 bye.
When Daniels returns, he will wear a protective brace on his left arm. The brace will limit extension of his left arm and serve as a shell to help protect it from impacts.
There remains a risk of reinjury to the left elbow, even with the brace. In a conversation with ESPN’s John Keim, Dr. Chetan Gohal said that a second dislocation could indicate unstable ligaments, even if there's no tear. This would increase the likelihood of another dislocation.
Gohal is an orthopedic surgeon at New York University's Langone Orthopedic Center and previously served as a team physician for the Chicago Blackhawks and the Chicago Cubs.
Daniels will likely have surgery during the offseason to repair his elbow.
Jayden Daniels Fantasy Football Outlook
When Jayden Daniels returns, he will be viewed as a QB1 with intriguing upside that can win weeks for managers.
Daniels looked like he had finally knocked off the rust and was being the electric playmaker we saw in 2024 before suffering his injury before halftime in Week 2. Daniels was 11-of-17 for 96 yards and one touchdown pass through the air, and had 69 rushing yards on seven carries for 14.74 fantasy points in the first half.
Before the injury, Daniels had been throwing the ball away and learned to slide while outside of the pocket to preserve his health.
It’s important to remember Daniels' major injuries have been upper-body injuries to his non-throwing arm. They haven't been to his lower body (his legs) or his throwing arm, so the injuries shouldn't impact his ability to be a dynamic playmaker.
Daniels had only missed one game between high school, college, and his rookie season before missing 11 games to four different injuries over the last two seasons.
Managers should feel confident putting Daniels back in their starting lineups when he is given the green light to play again. He’s a fantasy cheat code that racks up points in and out of the pocket.
Additionally, managers could roster Marcus Mariota as a handcuff quarterback in case Daniels were to reinjure his elbow. Mariota has been a plug-and-play starter for the Commanders and provided fantasy-viable numbers in the process.
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Who Should I Start? Who Should I Sit? Some common Week 4 fantasy football lineup decisions are regarding players like Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs. But not to worry, we are here to help make these decisions and build winning lineups in Week 4. Set your optimal fantasy football lineups for Week 4 of the 2026 NFL season. Our free Who Should I Start? tool will help you make your fantasy football lineup decisions. Compare up to four NFL players, and we'll tell you who to start... all free! Get your winning lineups set, and make the right decisions.
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Popular Week 4 Searches. Curious to see some tough lineup decisions for Week 4 (2026)? Below you will find a list of some popular Who Should I Start? searches that RotoBaller readers are looking at this week. Click any of the links to see the result and recommendation.
Popular Week 4 Searches - Start/Sit Player Comparisons
Below are some popular Week 4 searches and comparisons from our 'Who To Start' tool for Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Terry McLaurin, Stefon Diggs compared to others:
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