Is Jayden Daniels' the Commanders' X-Factor in 2026?
· Yahoo Sports
Can the Washington Commanders bounce back from last season's ugly 5-12 record? One year after going 12-5 and reaching the NFC Championship Game, the Commanders went the other way in 2025 for many reasons.
One of the primary reasons for Washington's 2025 struggles was quarterback Jayden Daniels. Daniels suffered three separate injuries, costing him a total of 10 games. He only played in four games from start to finish. Daniels and his top target, wide receiver Terry McLaurin, played in only one complete game together — Week 1.
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If the Commanders are to bounce back in 2026, it will be because of Daniels. If he's healthy, Washington rightly believes it can beat anyone. Daniels will be playing in a new offense, but there will be elements of the old offense with new coordinator David Blough.
You could almost say that Daniels is Washington's X-Factor in 2026. That's what Ben Arthur of Fox Sports believes.
After putting together one of the best rookie quarterback seasons in league history in 2024, Daniels was limited to seven games last season due to injury. If the former No. 2 overall pick is healthy, the Commanders could be right back in NFC contention.
He's right. If Daniels is healthy, Washington is a contender. The good news is that he is healthy. And motivated.
Do you think Daniels heard all of the talk surrounding his 2024 classmates, Drake Maye and Caleb Williams, last season? It was almost as if what Daniels did in 2024 was forgotten. That's not to say Daniels roots against Maye and Williams, as he doesn't, but that's the competitive drive that makes him special.
When Daniels is healthy, he's the type of player who elevates those around him. That's what great quarterbacks do. We saw it frequently during his rookie season. So, yes, there is no bigger X-Factor than Daniels in 2026.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Is Jayden Daniels' the Commanders' X-Factor in 2026?