Jayden Daniels Cleared to Start vs Giants in Week 5

Jayden Daniels is back. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Friday that Daniels has been cleared and will start Sunday against the New York Giants after missing two games with a dislocated left elbow, the team's official site reported.

Washington needs him right now. The Commanders are 1-3, the Giants come in at 3-1, and this is Washington's third division opponent in five weeks. A home win puts the Commanders back in the middle of the NFC East race. A loss drops them to 1-4 with New York sitting at 4-1.

The brace is staying on

Daniels dislocated the elbow in the Week 2 loss to the Cowboys, per NBC Sports. He was a full participant in practice all week, and offensive coordinator David Blough said there would be no limitations on the game plan, ESPN reported.

He will wear a brace on his non-throwing left arm for the rest of the season. It keeps the elbow slightly bent, and Daniels said he can do everything he needs with it on, including handoffs and snaps from under center. Washington had a shot to play him in Week 4 against the Colts in London but gave him another week instead.

"It's just kind of a part of me now, so, for the time being, as long as I'm on that field, so just getting used to it, trying to find the different ways where it's most comfortable and I'm not really just thinking about [it]," Daniels said. "I'm just out there playing."

The caution makes sense. ESPN noted Daniels has finished only five games since the start of the 2025 season. He dislocated his elbow in Week 10 last year, came back in Week 14, and re-aggravated it after getting shoved to the ground.

Who he is throwing to

The bad news is Stefon Diggs. He is out with a hamstring injury. Terry McLaurin (hamstring) sounds like he will be questionable, though Quinn liked what he saw Friday.

"Terry, I thought, looked really good today," Quinn said, adding the team will decide closer to game time.

Guard Sam Cosmi (concussion/throat) and running back Rachaad White (shoulder) are both good to go. NBC Sports also flagged rain and wind in the forecast. Fan take for fantasy: Daniels is back in the starting conversation, but a wet afternoon with no Diggs keeps the ceiling in check.

Daniels put it simply this week, saying "we know what's at stake." Beat the Giants at home and Washington is right back in the division fight. That is the whole Sunday.