Is it time to sit JD?

[Boone]

We've talked about this quite a bit. But today, you saw Daniels go down hard on the same left arm/elbow he recently dislocated. Is getting Jayden 'more experience' worth him possibly going down with a major injury, one that could impact his availability in season 3?

And how much is he 'learning' being on the field with this current roster and supporting cast?

 

[Bulldog]

If I am the owner I sit Daniels for the last 4 games.

One, he still doesn't look healthy.

Two, the holes on both sides of the ball with all of the injuries and now being out of the playoffs means there is a real chance the kid could suffer a far more serious injury in a largely meaningless stretch of games.

As an observer, the response to the OT loss to Denver in coming out and losing 31-0 to a 4-8 team is cause for concern that nothing positive is going to come out of getting snaps in these upcoming games.

The team to me has simply quit.

 

[method man]

He needs to play. Needs to learn to protect himself and hopefully have a bit of positive momentum going into the offseason.

KK needs to call the type of game he called for Mariota in Denver here on out, meaning a focus on getting the ball out of his hands faster

 

[Boone]

I bubble wrap him. Consensus has been 'if he's healthy he plays'. Well guess what, he looked like he nearly blacked out from pain when he went down on that left arm today. He's not 'healthy'. 4 ****ing more games of experience makes no difference in this young man's career. Having to sit out a year because you get your ACL or Achilles or labrum torn, coming off this season, that would be devastating to his learning curve and career.

Sit him down - NOW.

 

[Ghost of Sarge]

I just finished watching what I could stomach. Yes, sit him for the rest of the miserable season. Still trying to figure out how the run game can be doing so good and you try and pass with a busted up QB on your first drive.

 

[burgold]

I remember early this week saying I was of two minds about Daniels playing and got slapped around a bit. I think I'll surprise by saying I'm okay with Daniels playing again this year IF he really is healthy. If he does play again, I don't think he gains much other than a change a bit of the nasty taste in his mouth this season has left., but it might be worth it for him to get through a game healthy for his own psyche.

The thing is, I don't know that he will be healthy enough to play. "Cleared to play" and "healthy" are clearly two different things. His elbow was not healed when they sent him out. Is his knee or his hamstring? He was elusive, but he certainly wasn't running away from many today.

So, I'm fine if they sit for the rest of the season. I'm also okay if they try to give him one more shot. I just don't think they should take the shot unless he is really well. I don't want him going out only to get hurt again like he did today or like Terry did earlier this year. Play him if he's at 100%. If he's at 99% let him pout on the bench.

 

[Boone]

Vote please guys

 

[Bulldog]

Yep, and if you play him and he suffers an ACL in one of those last 4 meaningless games then you compromise any hope this team has of rebounding in 2026 as his injury will likely cost him most of next season.

Is that something we want to contemplate at this point?

This is a $6B plus business, one would hope at some point someone above Quinn makes some adult decisions.

 

[NoCalSkins]

My initial opinion was play him if he is healthy, especially because the season ends with a month worth of division games and you want your QB getting the reps against the opponents they need to get the most familiar with, but if the pass protection against the blitz is going to be this poor for the remainder of the season......nope.

 

[Faithful Fan]

At this point I’d like to see more from him before the draft so I know whether or not to take a flyer on Fernando Mendoza.

I’m joking of course, but I do think JD still has a lot to learn and prove.

 

[Riggo44]

I voted to play him. But in now way do I want him playing on that shit surface in New York

 

[Bulldog]

At this point If I am the owner I would tend to think I have to receive a lot more proofs from Peters, Quinn, the entire defense and the skill players on offense before I start looking at evaluating whether Daniels was the right pick and whether we need to revisit what we are doing at QB.

Just looking at who we have on offense for a moment.

Again, as a businessman, because I am closer to being in that role than having ANY experience as a GM or head coach, my first question is - do I have people surrounding the quarterback that do for him what other units do for their quarterbacks around the NFL?

Here it's an obvious no.

Washington's backfield is devoid of any proven playmaker. We have a rookie #7 pick with some upside who is best as a #3 as he learns the league after playing ONE game in college in 2024. We have two guys in MacNichols ( age 30) and Chris Rodriguez that are clearly backup level performers. Neither has ever been counted on as a full-time starter in the league and neither has breakaway ability.

At wide receiver, Terry McLaurin is our best player but he is arguably a #2 on a number of other teams. While he is productive, he has never been the type of 100 catch, 1,600 yard receiver that keeps an offense churning. In games against some of the better corners he has been shut down pretty effectively.

Deebo Samuel is a hybrid, a more athletic version of Taysom Hill, but not a regular outside starting receiving threat in the traditional sense.

If we had a pro bowl tight end that could stretch the field perhaps that lack of outside push from Deebo beyond the 10-15 yard area would not be as noticeable.

But we don't have George Kittle here.

Noah Brown you can't count on. Luke McCaffrey is a very good kick returner. Jaylin Lane is rookie slot receiver who needs time.

So, collectively you are telling me that THESE are the players you are asking me as the owner to use in evaluating the quarterback?

Let's be honest. When Washington's offense comes on the field the other team is worried about two things, Jayden Daniels, and ensuring one of the top 2 corners is on Terry McLaurin.

That's about it folks.

Running backs? Don't scare anyone. Tight ends? Don't scare anyone? Other wide receivers? None of them are regularly going to get behind a defense.

 

[clskinsfan]

I would normally play him if he is healthy. But realistically we need to lose out for the betterment of the franchise. So I would sit him.

 

[AngryChuckT]

I was all for playing him, but after today sit him. He is running too much, his accuracy is night and day from last year, and he holds the ball too long. That is not gonna get fixed in the next 4 games. That is an off season project.

 

[Bulldog]

I would normally play him if he is healthy. But realistically we need to lose out for the betterment of the franchise. So I would sit him.

The horrible truth may be though that Daniels is not going to win us any more games in 2025 not only because he's still favoring the injury but because this team collectively is now at such a low ebb that it would take Patrick Mahomes in his mid-20's prime to breathe life into the club.

I think Washington loses these games whether Daniels is in there or on the bench, the only factor is whether you want to risk further injury.

The draft position is yet to be determined but I would be shocked if Washington is outside the top 6-7 picks at worst.

 

[DieselPwr44]

I voted to bubble wrap him even though I generally disagree with that approach.

Bubble wrap him mainly because the OC has no clue in how to protect him. Kliff is Spurrier-esque when it comes to protection.

 

[Gooseneck]

yes

 

[Burgundy Sweatshirt]

Originally I wanted him to play. After the trash game today, sit him. He is not 100% healthy and teams are going to and will be able to blitz and crush him. We have no one to stop them or a game plan to scheme for it. All those great runs to get to the 1 yard line and Kliff calls 4 pass plays. He’s not capable of protecting JD. JD is our future.

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

I voted to bubble wrap him even though I generally disagree with that approach.

Bubble wrap him mainly because the OC has no clue in how to protect him. Kliff is Spurrier-esque when it comes to protection.

Oh wow, I had forgotten how bad Spurrier was at this. Oh.
Wow.

I was thinking at some point today, am I wrong? Does it matter this much to be predictable? Haven't other coaches been a bit too predictable but made something come out of it?

Even Spurrier did manage more at times, I think that's true - but I think he had a better defense. However... you reminded me very clearly of the kind of pressure Spurrier's QBs generally did run into. Yes, you're right, it has some similarity.

The offense today was a mess.

 

[RedWolf]

If he is fully healthy? Play him