Quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Jayden Daniels spoke to the media outside the locker room following Tuesday's practice. Here are four takeaways from their scrums.
1. A different perspective.
Daniels will go through a new experience for the final three weeks of the season. Although he will practice with his teammates, the Commanders decided to sit him for the rest of the year to let his elbow heal for 2026.
It's a situation Mariota is familiar with, whether through injuries or being benched for performance. It allowed him to see the game from a different perspective, and he advised Daniels to take advantage of it.
"Unfortunately, I think he's had a few opportunities to do that this season," Mariota said. "And there's always things that you can kind of learn and absorb. I think he's done a great job of just understanding that and doing his best to ask questions and see where to go."
2. Daniels willing to do "whatever they need."
Daniels' workload over the next few weeks will be catered specifically to him. Head coach Dan Quinn said he will work on some "out of the pocket things" as well as some progression drills. Once he's got that down, he and the team will work on how to best take advantage of his practice time.
Daniels is fine with whatever they need from him.
"I'll be out there practicing whatever they need me to do," Daniels said. "[If] I gotta do scout team, I'll have fun with that and get the best looks and really just be out here, like I said, be supportive of all my teammates and still be engaged and bring some energy."
Daniels also wants to be there to support his teammates, which played a role in his decision not to be placed on Injured Reserve. He wants to do whatever he can to help Mariota as the veteran leads the offense, just as Mariota did when Daniels was the starter.
"That's my focus, man, being the best teammate for Marcus [Mariota], being the best teammate in the locker room," Daniels said. "Anything Marcus needs to be there for him."
3. Quinn still has respect in the locker room.
The Commanders have had a tough season thanks to a mixture of injuries and underwhelming performances, but the players are still bought into the culture Quinn established last season. A lot of that faith comes from how Quinn operates, not just during their losing streak but also when the Commanders have success.
"I think he's always the same, regardless of the ups and downs, and a lot of guys respect that," Mariota said. "When you're out there making decisions as the head ball coach, guys have to feel like they're decisions that are best for them, too. And we always feel that DQ's done that, and I really think that's why the respect in the locker room has always been the same."
The Commanders are aware of the situation they're in. Regardless of how much injuries played a role in the season, their record speaks to how things have gone for them. However, that doesn't mean they're giving up on Quinn and the messages he's been giving them. He wants them to keep their standards high, no matter how the external factors have affected them.
"When you come every single day and you're consistent, guys believe in that and trust him," Mariota said.
Check out the top photos of the Washington Commanders during their Week 15 matchup against the New York Giants.
4. Daniels working through "super tough" situation.
"Frustrating" would be an understatement for how Daniels' season has gone. He'll end Year Two missing more games (10) than he played (seven) and had to be pulled because of injury three times. It's a disappointing follow-up to what was an electric rookie campaign. He's a competitor, he said, and he always wants to play in games no matter what.
However, Daniels does understand why the Commanders chose to sit him. He is a key part of the franchise's future, and they need him to be healthy to have the best chance of winning in 2026. So, he's going to do what he always does: make the most of the situation he's in and learn as much as possible.
"Ask questions, as many questions as I can," Daniels said. "Kind of have that time to really sit there and maybe ask DQ about situational football or go talk to the DB coach, Simmons [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."
