Joe Theismann Believes Jayden Daniels Needs To Focus On Recovery

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Nov 17, 2025, 7:19 PM

joe theismann believes jayden daniels needs to focus on recovery

Poor Washington Commanders fans have heard this story before. The team has a history of the star quarterbacks being lost to injury. Jayden Daniels was injured Week 9 on “Sunday Night Football” when he suffered a gruesome left elbow dislocation. Daniels is now part of the Washington fraternity of quarterbacks with injury troubles, including Alex Smith, Robert Griffin III, and Joe Theismann. Similar to Daniels, Theismann’s injury took place on primetime television, this time on “Monday Night Football” in 1985. Theismann’s leg broke after New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor landed on it.

Taylor can immediately be seen yelling to the sideline for medical staff. Similar scenes unfolded on Sunday. But, Daniels has not been placed on injured reserve. Head coach Dan Quinn said Daniels suffered no ligament damage and will not need surgery. Meaning, there is a possibility Daniels could return this season if the hole they dig isn’t too deep. The Commanders (3-7) face the Miami Dolphins (3-7) in an international matchup in Madrid, Spain, Sunday morning.

GettyLANDOVER, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 02: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders walks to the locker room after injuring his left arm during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in the game at... (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) In a heartbreaking turn of events, Washington Commanders fans witnessed yet another injury to their franchise quarterback, Jayden Daniels, who dislocated his left elbow earlier this week. This incident has raised concerns not only for the team's current season but also about the long-term health of a promising young player. In this article, we will explore the implications of Daniels' injuries, the historical context of quarterback injuries in the franchise, and the advice offered by former Commanders quarterback Joe Theismann. Jayden Daniels' latest injury marks the third time this season he has missed games, following previous hamstring injuries.

The dislocated elbow adds to a growing list of injuries that have plagued the young quarterback since his rookie season, which ended in a promising NFC Championship Game appearance. Unfortunately, such injuries have become a recurring theme for the Commanders, echoing the struggles faced by previous quarterbacks like Joe Theismann, Robert Griffin III, and Alex Smith. For fans, seeing their star quarterback sidelined repeatedly can be disheartening. The Commanders' season has been significantly affected by these injuries, highlighting the importance of player health in professional sports. As Daniels navigates this challenging period, the question remains: how will this affect his development as a quarterback? In a recent interview, Joe Theismann weighed in on the situation, emphasizing the necessity of ensuring that Daniels is fully medically cleared before returning to the field.

Theismann, who himself faced career-altering injuries, highlighted the importance of player safety and the need for quarterbacks to protect themselves. He stated, "I think being able to go back and play at some point would be beneficial to him to continue to grow. You have to remember he's only in his second year and hasn't played a lot in his second year." Theismann's words resonate deeply, as they underscore the delicate balance between gaining experience and ensuring... Joe Theismann recognizes the importance of Sunday's game for the Washington Commanders. Washington caps the NFL International Series with a matchup against the Miami Dolphins in the NFL Madrid Game at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Game time is scheduled for 9:30 a.m.

ET, and 3:30 p.m. local time. Theismann spent the week in Madrid as part of a partnership with USAA. Theismann, Alejandro Villanueva and Ryan Tannehill helped organize a flag football tournament for U.S. military members Wednesday. The winners earned tickets to Sunday's game between the Commanders and Dolphins – which is just Washington's second international game in franchise history.

The Commanders are trying to break a five-game losing streak that has derailed the season. "At this stage of the season, you just want to get a win," Theismann told The Sporting News. "You don't worry about four or five weeks down the road and what position you're going to be in. This to me is monumental for us. To lose six in a row is something this team has not done in a long time, especially coming off the year they had last year." The Washington Commanders are in the midst of a full-blown renaissance.

After the new ownership group took over, Washington took just one season to go from a four-win bottom-feeder to the NFC Championship Game. Now they’re walking into the 2025-26 season as a legitimate Super Bowl contender. However, it’s been a long time since the fanbase had much to cheer about, with just six playoff appearances in the last 30 years. As a result, everyone is excited about the new-look Commanders, including a former MVP and Super Bowl champion from the franchise, Joe Theismann. After coming to the NFL in 1974, Theismann spent the entirety of his 12-year run with the Washington Redskins. It took him a while to get things underway, but a two-year stretch in 1982 and 1983 defined his success with the franchise.

During that dominant period, he earned two Pro Bowl selections and won the league’s MVP and Offensive Player of the Year award in 1983. He also led them to a victory in Super Bowl 17 and another appearance in Super Bowl 18. Now set to participate in the American Century Championship from July 11 onwards, Theismann sat down with PFSN for an exclusive interview. The conversation inevitably turned to his former team and their recent turnaround. Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels warms up before the start of the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, on Sunday, January 26, 2025. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY PHI202501126703 JOHNxANGELILLO

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels warms up before the start of the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, on Sunday, January 26, 2025. PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxONLY PHI202501126703 JOHNxANGELILLO Before he ever slipped on a Commanders uniform, Jayden Daniels had already ignited a debate that went far beyond box scores. Even after torching college defenses and winning the Heisman trophy at LSU, the conversation kept circling back to the same fixation—his slender frame. Even before he took an NFL snap, concerns swirled around his physique. An AFC exec bluntly told Tom Pelissero that Daniels is “f—ing skinny.”

“The biggest thing I always worried about is [Daniels is] f—ing skinny. He didn’t take a picture at the combine, he didn’t weigh in at the combine — that’s all by f—ing design. He knows he’s f—ing skinny. You worry about him getting hurt,” they said. That warning followed pre-draft whispers—no combine weigh-in, no photo, despite his elite athleticism. Analysts fretted: his slender 6’4″ and 210-pound frame might buckle under NFL hits.

Fast forward to now, and the NFL legend Joe Theismann just shared his insight on Daniels’ physique. Theismann bluntly clapped back at the critics who labeled Daniels “Skinny,” noting that the second-year quarterback is smart and knows how to protect himself. Jayden Daniels’ rookie season transformed more than just the Washington Commanders’ win column. It earned him praise from one of the franchise’s most legendary figures. Joe Theismann, who guided Washington to two Super Bowl appearances and captured the championship in Super Bowl XVII, recently shared his thoughts on the young quarterback’s impressive debut campaign. The former Washington great expressed confidence in Daniels during an appearance on Good Morning Football, believing the Heisman Trophy winner could usher in a new era for the organization.

“Great work ethic, terrific young man, smart, knows how to play. Jayden understands the entire game of football, processes things very well, and he’s made big play after big play after big play all through the course of last year. Love everything about him. And I think one of the most important things you have to have at the position is you have to be respected by your teammates, and he certainly is,” Theismann said. The former Washington Redskins quarterback (1974-85) was a guest on "The Sports Junkies" (106.7 The Fan) Friday and was asked to assess the Commanders' rookie quarterback from LSU. "He checks every box that you want for a young man to play that position," began Theismann.

Theismann voiced how important April's draft was for the Commanders, who have a new owner, general manager and coaching staff. He has been around the franchise for decades now, and he is quite aware of how different the fan base became with Dan Snyder as owner for 24 years. "It was the absolute must choice for the Commanders to get [Daniels] with that pick," Theismann said. "Nothing else would have satisfied the fans, totally understand that. You watch his work ethic, and then you talk to the coaches, and you see how he applies himself. His demeanor is very, very even-keeled.

That is why he was drafted where he was and was the Heisman Trophy winner." Not only does Theismann like what he has seen in Daniels' work ethic and processing, but he also likes Daniels' skill as a passer.

Joe Theismann Believes Jayden Daniels Needs To Focus On Recovery

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