Commanders' Jayden Daniels opens up about being shut down, 'frustrating' season

The Washington Commanders shut Jayden Daniels down for the rest of the season after the second-year quarterback aggravated a previously suffered elbow injury in Week 14. 

On Tuesday, Daniels spoke with media members about a campaign that hasn't gone as planned for those associated with the Commanders. 

Jayden Daniels left frustrated over injury-riddled season

"I don’t wanna miss games at all," Daniels said, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. "I’ve been frustrated this whole season missing games. I want to be out there with my teammates as much as possible, so it’s just been a frustrating year at this point in the year, but you learn from it when you move forward." 

Expectations were high for the Commanders after Daniels guided the club to the NFC Championship Game as a rookie. However, he missed time this fall with a sprained left knee and a right hamstring injury before he suffered a gruesome dislocated left elbow on Nov. 2. In the end, he made just seven starts for a club that's heading into Week 16 at 4-10, and that will be playing only for pride through the end of the regular season. 

"It was obviously disappointing," Daniels said about his campaign ending prematurely. "I’m a competitor. I want to play."

Jayden Daniels will still work to improve despite not playing

As noted by ESPN's John Keim and Zach Selby of the Commanders' website, Daniels will remain on the active roster and practice with the team. 

"I'll be out there practicing whatever they need me to do," Daniels said about his plans for the final three weeks of Washington's season. "If I gotta do scout team, I'll have fun with that and give the best looks."

The Commanders host the first-place Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) this coming Saturday, and Washington will play at Philadelphia in Week 18. On Christmas Day, the Commanders will welcome the Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1) to Northwest Stadium. Daniels made it known he wants to focus on "getting better" during upcoming practices. 

"Ask questions -- as many questions I can," Daniels said about that process. "Kind of have that time to really sit there and maybe ask [head coach Dan Quinn] about situational football or go talk to the DB coach, [defensive Backs coach Jason Simmons], and all those guys to see what they're thinking and how they would call this and what are the rules and principles. So, there's a lot I can learn."