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By Mark Kern
Contributing Sports Writer
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Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders had a tough Week 2 as they lost to the Green Bay Packers, 27-18. It was even worse for Daniels, who was hit constantly throughout the game, and was sacked four times. During the second half, he was tackled awkwardly on a play that could have been called a hip-drop tackle, and he suffered a sprained knee.
Coach Dan Quinn said earlier in the week that Daniels was having a good rehab, but that the earliest he would be practicing is Friday.
However, the news broke on Friday that he wasn't practicing, and the team made it official that Marcus Mariota would be getting the start in Week 3.
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While the team would love to have Daniels back in this game, the team is going to be very cautious when it comes to bringing him back. Earlier in the week, Quinn told reporters that the team was going to be 'smarter, not faster' when it came to bringing Daniels back.
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With Daniels out, this gives Mariota a chance to play against a Raiders team that he played for from 2020-22. He played in one game in 2020, and threw for 226 yards and one touchdown.
Last year, he completed 34-of-44 for 346 yards and four touchdowns for the Commanders. While he is not the same player that Daniels is, Mariota has many of the same abilities that will allow him to do what offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury wants his quarterback to do.
If this was an NFC East game late in the season or even a playoff game, then maybe the Commanders would be more aggressive with having Daniels play. However, a Week 3 game against an AFC team, this is a move that is smart.
The Commanders are going to be very cautious bringing him back, as they can ill-afford to have him miss extended time. The biggest knock on Daniels entering the NFL from LSU was how would his body hold up for a skinny guy who is not afraid to run the ball a lot.
The team spent this off-season bringing in left tackle Laremy Tunsil to help shore up the offensive line, but that unit has struggled some as Daniels has been sacked seven times in two games.
Kickoff is schedule between the Commanders and Raiders for 1 p.m. ET, and the game will be on FOX.
For more on the Washington Commanders and the NFL, visit Newsweek Sports.
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