Will Commanders QB Play Week 8 vs Bears?
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Will Commanders QB Play Week 8 vs Bears?

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One of the marquee matches on NFL Week 8 Schedule is the battle between Chicago Bears and that Washington’s commander.

The contest could feature the first-ever battle between the top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft – Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels – and potentially give one an early lead in the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Year race.

However, Daniel’s status for Sunday’s game is in flux. He has to deal with a rib injury that knocked him out of Washington’s Week 7 win over Carolina Panthersso the rookie could be a real, game-time decision for the expected clash of NFC playoff contenders.

Here’s what to know about Daniels’ injury and whether he can suit up in Week 8 against the Bears.

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Will Jayden Daniels play this week against the Bears?

The Commander officially ruled Daniels “questionable” ahead of their Week 8 matchup against the Bears.

Daniels missed practice Wednesday and Thursday because of the rib injury that knocked him out of the team’s Week 7 win over the Panthers. According to head coach Dan Quinn, the rookie phenom returned to practice Friday on a limited basis, which was always the team’s hope.

“We followed the plan that we set up at the beginning of the week,” Quinn told reporters during a press conference after practice on Friday. “We’ll judge how he reacts to the work that we did (in) the next 48 hours. But we really pushed it today.”

Quinn also noted that the commanders will “make the best decision for him and the team” when assessing Daniels’ status. And the 48-hour timeline will likely give Daniels a game-time decision for Washington’s showdown with Chicago, which begins at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday.

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Daniels admitted to reporters during a media availability that he was “feeling good” before the match.

“I want to play, but (it’s) not my decision,” Daniels said with a smile.

Daniels also noted that Washington’s coaches “feel confident” in his recovery and trust the team won’t rush him back just to put him on the field.

“They wouldn’t put me in any position they wouldn’t feel comfortable in for my future, and I wouldn’t put myself in that position either,” Daniels said.

Who is Jayden Daniels backup on Commanders QB depth chart?

If Daniels can’t play against the Bears, the veteran signals Marcus Mariota will begin.

Mariota was the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and is with his fifth different NFL team. He is 34-40 in 74 career starts but has completed 73.1 percent of his passes for 203 yards and two touchdowns in limited action during the 2024 NFL season.

Below is a complete look at Washington’s quarterback room:

  1. Jayden Daniels
  2. Marcus Mariota
  3. Jeff Driskel
  4. Sam Hartman (practice group)