The Washington Commanders will battle the Kansas City Chiefs without their star quarterback in Week 8.
Jayden Daniels is expected to miss Washington's Monday night contest against the reigning AFC champions due to a low-grade hamstring strain, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Veteran Marcus Mariota will start in place of Daniels.
Daniels suffered the injury early in the third quarter of the Commanders' 44-22 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, but was fortunate to avoid a "significant or long-term" injury, Commanders coach Dan Quinn told reporters on Monday. With this in mind, Washington is playing it safe by keeping Daniels sidelined to allow him time to recover from an injury that can be both nagging and fickle.
The hamstring ailment is the latest in what has become a frustrating second season for Daniels. The 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year suffered a knee sprain and missed two games (Weeks 3-4) while recovering, prompting Mariota's insertion into the lineup. Just when Daniels was beginning to look like himself again, another injury interrupted has his progress.
Mariota went 1-1 in two starts for Washington earlier this season, leading the Commanders to a 41-24 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at home before falling 34-27 to the Falcons in Atlanta.
He'll face his toughest test to date in the 2025 season when he leads the Commanders onto GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in front of a national audience Monday night.
