Ben Standig

Jayden Daniels is OUT for Sunday after aggrevating his elbow injury at Minnesota.

Remaining games tbd.

If you don’t trust Jayden Daniels to stay healthy, say the quiet part out loud Fans keep calling for the Commanders to sit their young QB. But that logic points somewhere far more uncomfortable.

A lot of fans and folks want Jayden Daniels bubble-wrapped until 2026. But that logic leads to one conclusion: you don’t trust him to stay healthy.

If so… then what?

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The Broken Season Keeps Breaking Podcast Episode · Last Man Standig · 12/08/2025 · 19m

The broken season keeps breaking
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When the season breaks: Jayden Daniels, Zach Ertz, and a locker room out of words MINNEAPOLIS — The library-quiet locker room said volumes.

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Season from hell gets worse: Jayden Daniels out again in Commanders' 31-0 loss at Vikings The QB exited in the third quarter after landing on his recently injured left elbow. Washington's pain knows no bounds.

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Injuries didn’t just sink these Commanders — they exposed the roster’s fragile depth. Two offseasons in, that’s no longer something Adam Peters inherited.

* Showing total players acquired pre 2024 on current NFC East rosters

* 20% off subscription offer inside
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Jayden Daniels is starting again with development top of mind: 'These games are critical' The Commanders' second-year quarterback will make his return since suffering a dislocated elbow on November 2. On Daniels and other Washington-Minnesota notes.

He's back
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Just did an informal poll among NFL execs/scouts on where Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza would rank coming out among the heralded 2024 QB class (Williams/Daniels/Maye top 3 for all in some order):

Scout 1 - Nix/Mendoza, JJM, Penix

Exec 1 - Nix/Mendoza, JJM, Penix

Scout 2 - Mendoza 4th

Injuries didn’t just sink these Commanders — they exposed the roster’s fragile depth. Two offseasons in, that’s no longer something Adam Peters inherited.

* Showing total players acquired pre 2024 on current NFC East rosters

* 20% off subscription offer inside
open.substack.com/pub/lastmans...

Project 2026: The Commanders need more than stars — they need bodies A thin roster, aging depth and too few long-term answers around Jayden Daniels define the work ahead for Adam Peters.

Project 2026, version 4.0. Whether the roster concerns are inherited or self-made, Adam Peters has plenty of work ahead this off-season.

(Discounted subscription rate offer inside. Limited time. Come join us.)
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The reasons cited here for Drake Maye are the reasons why I think Jayden Daniels should have received much more MVP talk last season.

Biggest difference? The faves -- Allen and Lamar -- fell off, leaving field wide open.

Why the Commanders should re-sign Marcus Mariota before the season ends There's no denying the importance of a backup QB, With one of the better options on the roster and Jayden Daniels battling injuries, Washington's smart play is not letting Mariota sniff free agency.

I wrote about why the Commanders' should jump start their offseason plan by locking up valuable backup QB/2026 free agent Marcus Mariota. Now.

("Cyber Monday" week subscription rate offer inside!)

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Treylon Burks on THAT catch.

Terry McLaurin on the loss, his return and going for 2 in OT.

I had the same reaction.

Jayden Daniels here at Northwest Stadium for the Commanders' 24th annual Harvest Feast along with Colson Yankoff, Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane.

UPDATE: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels returning to practice this week Daniels has been sidelined since suffering a dislocated elbow on Nov. 2 against the Seahawks.

Jayden Daniels will return to practice this week, remains "unlikely" to face the Broncos
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What now for the Commanders? A mailbag for the fed-up, the quietly faithful and those grasping for hope You asked and I answered questions about what to cheer for at 3-8, Johnny Newton's future, free agency, youth movement and more.

Commanders mailbag:
🏈 What to cheer for at 3-8
🏈 free agency
🏈 Johnny Newton's future
🏈 Youth movement
🏈 Roster fixes - quality vs. quantity

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On the other site, I was asked about saying that "dead cap is almost always irrelevant" on @benstandig.bsky.social's podcast. Let me elaborate!

First and foremost, dead cap is just another way of saying sunk cost. And sunk costs shouldn’t matter for decision-making.

I’ll come back to this point.

Excellent podcast episode w with Seth. He adds more on this thread on dead cap money hyperbole.
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WR Jacoby Jones cleared waivers and is expected to rejoin the Commanders' practice squad, per source.

Ben Standig in Last Man Standig Mailbag — Calling Out the Quiet Ones The daily loyalists? Legends. Whether here on LMS or on social media, there’s a core group that chimes in no matter the topic or the Commanders’ latest plot twist....

Commanders mailbag, bye week edition. Ask. Vent. Question. Philosophize. I'm here for it all.

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The Math Ain't Mathing Podcast Episode · Last Man Standig · 11/19/2025 · 1h 3m

🎙 Why the Commanders' math isn't mathing, with ESPN's @sethwalder.bsky.social. The key stat change involving Jayden Daniels. Adam Peters' familar roster-building approach. Keeping Marshon Lattimore. Trading for Laremy Tunsil. + lineups plans for the final 6 games.

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The Math Ain't Mathing Podcast Episode · Last Man Standig · 11/19/2025 · 1h 3m

🎙 Why the Commanders' math isn't mathing, with ESPN's @sethwalder.bsky.social. The key stat change involving Jayden Daniels. Adam Peters' familar roster-building approach. Keeping Marshon Lattimore. Trading for Laremy Tunsil. + lineups plans for the final 6 games.

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Dan Quinn signals post-bye youth movement. Will Commanders follow through? Jayden Daniels injury, usage decisions and a lean toward the future shape the final stretch of Washington's down 2025 NFL season.

Two weeks and two more losses, now 6 in a row, can change ones perspective on what matters in a seemingly lost season.
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The Commanders announced they have released K Matt Gay.

Commanders snaps, Week 11:

Offense 67, Defense 56

Career-high 45% for CRod (previous - 39.3%)

DTs without Payne -- Kinlaw 43, Goldman 25, Newton 22, Day 14

DE Jacob Martin's 78.6%, his most snaps in any game since 2021

Penalty Kicks Podcast Episode · Last Man Standig · 11/16/2025 · 37m

🎙️Thoughts on a competitive loss against another not-good team with my guy @Russellmania621 chatting from Madrid. Curious calls on both sides. Penalty kicks. Digging for positives (CRod, Martin). Watching a game overseas. Bye week talk. The Jayden plan.

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Commanders-Cowboys and Sports Media Talk

I previewed Cowboys-Commanders with @benstandig.bsky.social, and then he answered all my nosy questions about working at The Athletic. open.spotify.com/episode/1Mgi...