The Washington Commanders are about to hit the road once again to take on the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. Here are four storylines to watch throughout the week.

1. Jayden Daniels' health.

There was no surprise when head coach Dan Quinn ruled Jayden Daniels out for last Sunday's game. Daniels hadn't been cleared for contact, and despite him returning to practice, the Commanders have been cautious with his recovery all season.

One week later, Daniels is still not cleared for contact, although there's a better chance of him playing against the Vikings.

"It's a little different at the position because it's not the normal contact like a linebacker or a running back, so it's more of the functional contact," Quinn said Monday. "Think of stiff arm on a bag, think of diving on the ground. So, there's more functional movements that he'll go through."

Quinn said Daniels went through some of that functional contact during Monday walkthrough and promised that he would do more throughout the week. As for when he'll be cleared for contact, that decision likely won't be made until Friday when the team has another full week of evaluations on Daniels to determine whether his elbow can handle the physical demands that come with the position.

Regardless of when it happens, it seems inevitable that Daniels will return at some point in the final five games. The Commanders have made it clear they want to end the season on a positive note, and getting their starting quarterback back in the lineup would certainly help.

2. A new role forDavid Blough.

Former quarterbacks coach Tavita Pritchard is now Stanford's head coach, leaving a void on the coaching staff. The Commanders will have to go through the league's hiring process in the offseason, but for now, Blough will take over most of the duties.

Assistant head coach/offensive passing game coordinator Brian Johnson will also take on some of the quarterbacks coach's responsibilities.

"When opportunities are there for a guy to elevate, like Tavita, we've got a good succession plan in place and David would be a big part of that," Quinn said.

It's reasonable to assume that Blough, who joined the Commanders' coaching staff as the assistant quarterbacks coach, would be strongly considered for the job this offseason. He has a good relationship with Daniels, and the organization feels like he has a promising career as an NFL coach.

However, the Commanders will open the position to the best candidates before making a decision.

3. Will Treylon Burks get more opportunities?

Burks made the play of the night on Sunday when he made his one-handed touchdown grab (using the same finger that he had surgically repaired) to put the Commanders up by a point over the Broncos in the third quarter. Burks has had an up-and-down career so far because of injuries, but the Commanders have been impressed with his work ethic and willingness to contribute, no matter the role.

Perhaps that will expand now that he's made one of the Commanders' best plays of the year.

"He wants to be able to do that, and I just think there's always a space for that type of competitor here. I feel that from him," Quinn said.

The Commanders were aware prior to Sunday's game that Burks was capable of making athletic plays. Both Quinn and Marcus Mariota mentioned that he made a similar play in practice earlier in the week. "There's a lot there," Quinn said when describing Burks' skill set, and the team is excited to see what it can get out of him.

Burks' future after this season is unclear, as he only signed a short-term contract with the Commanders earlier this season. However, Quinn has mentioned several of Burks' qualities that would make him an ideal fit. He said Burks works hard and is always willing to learn. He sees that Burks wants to "prove it," and the Commanders normally find room on their roster for players like that.

4. Updates on injured players.

The Commanders got a boost on both sides of the ball last weekend with Terry McLaurin and Will Harris' return. McLaurin looked like his typical self with seven catches for 96 yards and a touchdown, while Harris stood out to Quinn with his tackling, physicality and communication.

The Commanders could be getting even more help this week, as wide receiver Noah Brown and defensive end Drake Jackson could be activated off Injured Reserve.

Washington saw the effect that adding one extra receiver can have on its offense. McLaurin was productive in his own right, but his presence also opened up opportunities for players like Zach Ertz, who led the Commanders with 106 receiving yards, and Deebo Samuel, who had 64 yards on five catches. Should Brown come back, it would provide defenses with another weapon to account for and reunite the Commanders' top three receivers for the first time since Week 2.

Jackson, a former second-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers, has been on IR since he signed with the team. The Commanders could certainly use help with their pass rush, which continued to struggle against Bo Nix and the Broncos. It's unclear how many snaps Jackson would get, but his athleticism would at least improve the group's depth.