Jayden Daniels (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

The Washington Commanders have offered an update on rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels following his exit vs. the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.

Daniels – who has quickly become a household name, having gotten off to a sensational start in the NFL on the back of his Heisman-winning campaign at LSU – sustained a rib injury during the first quarter of his Week 7 matchup against Carolina.

The QB appeared to take a hefty hit on a scramble and was having difficulty throwing on the sideline thereafter. He eventually went to the locker room to get checked and was later ruled out of the game.

There were some good signs, however, as Daniels returned to the sideline in street clothes and was seen smiling and waving at fans, also giving them a thumbs up to suggest he was good. His mother also claimed he was “fine” in a social media post.

The rookie’s status for Week 8 remains unclear as his injury requires additional testing, which will take place today, per NFL insider Jordan Schultz, who has also disclosed that initial scans did not pick up any fractures.

“Commanders rookie QB sensation Jayden Daniels is undergoing tests today to determine the severity of his rib injury, per sources,” Schultz wrote on X. “Initial tests on Sunday showed no fractures, but further tests today and possibly in the coming days will provide more clarity.”

Washington Expected To Err On The Side Of Caution With Jayden Daniels

The Commanders are expected to take a cautious approach with Daniels. They are aware that they could depend on Marcus Mariota, who fired them to a 40-7 win in the rookie’s absence and has been a solid backup.

Despite the initial outlook and his mother’s assurances, Jayden Daniels will likely be a game-time decision for the Commanders.

Fans will hope to see him back in time to face Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears, given that the scheduled contest is one pitting the No. 1 and No. 2 overall picks from 2024 against each other.