Commanders will start Jayden Daniels at QB while Vikings could have O-line back together

Sunday’s matchup between the Vikings and Commanders will be another showdown between two 2024 quarterbacks, as Washington coach Dan Quinn announced Friday that No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels will start.

Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the No. 10 pick, is also making a return from injury this week having cleared concussion protocol and practiced in full all three days.

Daniels has been out since exiting against the Seahawks on Nov. 2 with a dislocated left elbow. It’s the third injury that’s benched him this season; Marcus Mariota has started has started six times in his place.

“It’s been a lot of adversity, but I’m young in my career,” Daniels said Friday. “Something that I gotta battle through. You go through adversity at some point, so however you try to approach it and weather the storm and come out seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.”

Daniels practiced in full for the first time Thursday after Quinn spent the beginning of the week talking about Daniels needing to go through QB-specific contact scenarios to be cleared.

Quinn said he felt good about Daniels’ chances at going since Wednesday’s practice.

Daniels said his confidence this week came from his range of movement, strength and “itch” to get back out there told him he was ready to return.

The Vikings, meanwhile, could have their full offensive line available again Sunday against the Commanders as Donovan Jackson made a limited return to practice Thursday from his ankle injury and was again limited Friday.

He was listed as questionable, as was left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who missed Thursday’s practice but was a full participant both Wednesday and Friday.

“Both CD and Donovan got some great work in today,” O’Connell said. “We’ll see how they turn over over the next 24 hours and hopefully have both those guys for the game.”

Even if Jackson or Darrisaw can’t go, the Vikings will have their multi-tool backup Blake Brandel available. He cleared concussion protocol after being placed in it following the Seahawks game.

The only two players the Vikings listed as out are safety Theo Jackson (neck) and defensive lineman Levi Drake Rodriguez (neck).

In addition to Jackson and Darrisaw, running back Ty Chandler (knee) is questionable. Chandler is returning from injured reserve, where he has been since Sept. 9. Chandler was a full practice participant both Thursday and Friday.

For the Commanders, tackle George Fant (knee) and defensive end Drake Jackson (knee/groin) are out. Wide receiver Noah Brown (groin/knee) and linebacker Bobby Wagner (knee) are questionable.

This will be McCarthy’s seventh start of the season, having missed five games because of a high ankle sprain and Sunday’s shutout loss to the Seahawks because of the concussion suffered against the Packers.

The Vikings shifted the focus amid their offense’s ongoing struggles, aiming to simplify for McCarthy, who on Thursday spoke candidly about his tendency to overthink.

“Cut it loose, pull the trigger, you’re prepared,” O’Connell said of his message to McCarthy. “He understands this game plan. He’s had a really good week of practice. Threw the ball really well. I think it’s now a matter of a lot of the principles that we’ve talked about coming in to play.”

“We’ve got playmakers that J.J. knows can do a lot of really good things if we get the ball in their hands,” O’Connell said. “Can we pitch-and-catch at the level that gives us opportunities to stack positive plays and have success?”

The Vikings hosted former Oklahoma punter Luke Elzinga for a tryout Thursday.

Elzinga played his final of six collegiate seasons in 2024 and spent the first four years of his career at Central Michigan University. He averaged 43.3 yards per punt throughout his entire career.

Current Vikings punter Ryan Wright is averaging 48.9 yards per punt through 50 punts this season, which is his fourth with the Vikings.