Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will travel with the team to London on Tuesday and is expected to practice ahead of Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts. The 25-year-old signal caller dislocated his left elbow during a Week 2 matchup, but his inclusion on the trip has raised hopes among fans of a rapid return to action.
Daniels suffered the injury to his non-throwing elbow on September 20 during Washington's 32-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The quarterback lost his footing when an offensive lineman stepped on his foot as he went to the ground. He put his hand out to break his fall, causing the elbow to buckle under his weight.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn confirmed following the contest that Daniels had dislocated his elbow, although X-rays did not reveal any fractures. ESPN insider Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday that Daniels has avoided surgery for the time being, though he could undergo an operation after the season concludes.
London travel and practice plans
The Commanders are slated to fly to the British capital on Tuesday to prepare for their Week 4 international fixture against the Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Reports indicate that Daniels will join his teammates on the flight and is expected to get on the practice field before Sunday's game.
However, the player's presence on the practice field does not guarantee that he will start the international contest. Quinn praised the young quarterback's effort during his rehabilitation process ahead of the trip.
"That would be him, for sure, yes. But to his credit, he's been absolutely putting in the work," Quinn said. "I am excited to get him back out on the practice field."
Marcus Mariota started under center in place of Daniels over the weekend, leading Washington to a 33-31 victory over the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks. Mariota is currently in line to start Week 4 against the Colts if Daniels is not cleared to play.
Recurrent injury and performance statistics
This is the second time Daniels has suffered this specific injury. The quarterback sustained a dislocated left elbow last November, an injury that kept him out for a month. When he returned to the field following that layoff, he aggravated the joint.
Before his injury against Dallas, Daniels had completed 29 of 51 passes for 260 yards, throwing three touchdowns and zero interceptions across his first two games of the season.
The matchup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium forms part of the National Football League's International Series, which features regular season games hosted outside the United States. The NFL established its regular season international games in London in 2007 to expand the sport's global reach.
Located in North London, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a state-of-the-art sports venue featuring a purpose-built synthetic turf field beneath a retractable soccer pitch specifically designed to accommodate NFL games. The Washington franchise, founded in 1932, competes in the NFC East division of the NFL. The team will monitor Daniels throughout their London practice sessions before deciding on their starting quarterback for Sunday's game.
