Washington arrives in England ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.
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WATFORD, England — Just 10 days after suffering a second dislocation of his left elbow, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels returned to practice Wednesday. He wore a brace on his left arm.
Washington conducted only a light walk-through after landing in London on Wednesday morning, but Coach Dan Quinn said Daniels would have been considered a limited participant if it had been a full practice. It’s unclear whether Daniels will play against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Asked what will dictate when Daniels is ready to play, Quinn responded: “The functionality and the strength.”
Quinn said the Commanders will increase Daniels’s reps as the week goes on and decide his game status Friday.
“We’re not going to put him out there before he’s ready,” Quinn said. “That’s why it’s important for us to trust the process.”
If Daniels can’t go, Marcus Mariota will log his second straight start. He has completed 63.8 percent of his passes (19th in the NFL), averaged 6.3 yards per attempt (23rd) and thrown four touchdown passes over two appearances this season. He has avoided committing any turnovers and has helped the offense stay afloat — allowing Washington (1-2) to be patient with Daniels, even if the team’s record creates urgency.
“He’s always a person that’s in good spirits, but you can tell that, this being the second time around, he’s comfortable with where he’s at,” Mariota said. “… He’s really just trusting everybody around him. Everybody’s best interest is for the organization and for him, and we’re going to do all that we can to help support him.”
Daniels was injured in the Commanders’ loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 20. X-rays and an MRI exam revealed that he didn’t suffer any fractures or significant ligament damage. After meeting with specialists last week, Daniels decided to forego surgery for the time being.
Daniels could have surgery in the offseason, according to a person familiar with the situation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal team matters. Undergoing surgery now probably would have ruled him out for the remainder of the season. Considering Daniels played just seven games — and finished only four of them — last season, it’s no surprise that pathway didn’t appeal to him.
Between Daniels’s progression and Sunday’s upset of the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, the Commanders are riding a wave of optimism. That will quickly change if they can’t handle the Colts (1-2).
Defensive coordinator Daronte Jones benched cornerback Mike Sainristil last week against Seattle and started Rasul Douglas in his place. Throughout the game, Douglas rotated with Fabian Moreau at outside cornerback.
Sainristil, however, still served as the primary nickelback and played 39 percent of the defensive snaps. He was targeted four times and gave up four catches for 41 yards and two touchdowns, according to the analytics platform NFL Pro.
Sainristil has given up five touchdowns this season, which is the most in the NFL. He has allowed a catch rate of 83.3 percent, which is the fifth-worst mark among defensive backs who have been targeted at least 10 times.
The secondary’s struggles aren’t all on Sainristil — Douglas leads the team with 123 receiving yards allowed — but he has been the most challenged defensive back on the roster. The coaching staff is giving him time to work through his issues but could bench him outright if there isn’t improvement soon.
That won’t happen this week. Quinn said the Commanders will continue to rotate Douglas and Moreau outside while playing Sainristil at nickelback.
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That may change once cornerback Trey Amos comes back. He has been on injured reserve all season with an ankle sprain, but he’ll be eligible to return against the New York Giants next week at Northwest Stadium.
Washington is averaging 132 rushing yards per game (eighth). But its backfield production — 3.6 yards per attempt (24th) on carries by running backs — has been subpar.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt has started all three games and leads the team with 47 rushing attempts and 142 yards on the ground, but he hasn’t played nearly as well as he did as a rookie. His rushing average has dropped from 4.6 yards to 3.0 (40th).
Veteran running back Rachaad White has been far more efficient coming off the bench. He has only had 22 carries, but he’s averaging 4.5 yards per attempt (15th). He has also been a more effective pass catcher and leads all Commanders running backs with nine catches for 51 yards and two touchdowns.
Health may play a factor this week. White is nursing a shoulder injury he suffered against the Seahawks and didn’t practice Wednesday. If he can get healthy, however, it may be worth giving him the starting nod.
Austin Ekeler could also enter the rotation after signing with the team Monday. He practiced Wednesday, but Quinn said it’s “too early” to say whether he’ll play Sunday. Ekeler suffered a torn Achilles with Washington last season and said he didn’t feel like himself physically until a couple of months ago. Now, he’s working to pick up offensive coordinator David Blough’s scheme on short notice.
“It’s like drinking through a fire hose,” Ekeler said. “I know all the concepts, but now it’s just learning the terminology. … It’ll be an adjustment, but I’ll get there.”
The Colts’ Jonathan Taylor is one of the best backs in football and ranks sixth in rushing yards. He’s powerful, explosive and hard to bring down.
Nonetheless, the Commanders should be prepared to take him on. They have limited opponents to 3.8 yards per carry (12th). They lead the NFL with a stuff rate of 25 percent, despite playing with stacked boxes just 10.9 percent of the time (30th).
The defensive line has led the way. The trio of nose tackle Tim Settle Jr. and defensive tackles Javon Kinlaw and Daron Payne have maintained gap integrity, shed blocks well and been disruptive in the backfield. Outside linebackers Odafe Oweh and K’Lavon Chaisson are known as pass rushers first, but they have also efficiently set the edge. Inside linebacker Sonny Styles has also made plays from the second level of the defense.
It has been overlooked because of the porous pass coverage, but the Commanders have been successful at slowing down opponents’ ground attack.
Right guard Sam Cosmi (concussion) and safety Nick Cross (internal injury) didn’t travel with the team to London and won’t play Sunday. Quinn said he’s optimistic about their chances of returning next week.
That puts Nick Allegretti in line to start his second straight game at right guard while Lucas Patrick fills in for him at center. The reconfigured, shorthanded offensive line didn’t generate much push in the run game against Seattle and gave up a lot of pressure in the pass game. But it will have an easier matchup against the Colts. Indianapolis has allowed 4.9 yards per carry (28th) and generates a pressure rate of just 26.8 percent (29th), according to NFL Pro.
Safety Percy Butler cleared concussion protocol and participated in practice Wednesday. He’ll provide some depth at safety with Cross sidelined.
Linebacker Frankie Luvu (groin) and tight end Chig Okonkwo (hamstring) returned to practice Wednesday after missing the past two games. With Leo Chenal out for the season after undergoing season-ending neck surgery Monday and Jordan Magee on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, Luvu is sorely needed in the middle of the defense.
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