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The Washington Commanders are set to welcome back their starting quarterback, Jayden Daniels, who has been sidelined for two weeks due to a dislocated elbow. Daniels will wear a brace when the Commanders face the New York Giants in Week 5, and the offensive line is fully aware of the need to shield him from heavy contact.
Right tackle Josh Conerly Jr. expressed his relief at having Daniels back on the field. "It feels great to have him back out there and get him moving around," Conerly said. "That's our number one priority is to make sure that we protect him, keep him upright."
Fortunately for Daniels, the Giants have struggled to generate a pass rush this season, recording just three sacks through four games—the fewest in the NFL. However, in the 2025 season opener, the Giants managed to sack Daniels three times. With Daniels returning from injury and backup Marcus Mariota unavailable for this game, Washington cannot afford to let their quarterback endure that kind of punishment again.
The Commanders have only one victory so far this season, coming against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3. Two of their losses have been against division opponents, placing them in an early hole. Currently, Washington sits in last place in the NFC East, while the Giants lead the division with a 3-1 overall record and a 1-0 mark in division play.
Although Conerly insisted that the team approaches every game with the same mindset, he acknowledged that the stakes are elevated for a division matchup. "I feel like we treat every game like we want to win the game. It doesn't really matter if it's division or not," Conerly said. "But there is a little bit more emphasis on it because it is in the division. But we have to go out there and just try and go get a W."
Key Analysis
The return of Jayden Daniels provides a significant boost for the Commanders, but his health remains a critical concern. The offensive line, led by Josh Conerly Jr., must step up to prevent the Giants from exploiting any rust or lingering effects of Daniels' injury. With the team already trailing in the division, a win against New York would be crucial to keep their season on track.
Originally reported by yahoo.