With the Washington Commanders kicking off Week 1 of their preseason at 7 p.m. ET, one question needs to be answered — will Jayden Daniels play tonight?
Coming off joint practices between in Ashburn, head coach Dan Quinn and the coaching staff have finalized their rotation plan against the Miami Dolphins at Northwest Stadium. Even though he'll likely sit out, we're still rocking with his team as part of our Dolphins vs. Commanders predictions.
Below, we break down Daniels’ expected role, injury status, and what to watch for in tonight's matchup.
For more expert plays throughout the preseason, dive into our latest NFL picks.
Will Jayden Daniels play tonight?
The short answer: No, Jayden Daniels will likely not play tonight.
Daniels is expected to make minimal appearances in the preseason after a sprained knee in Week 2 of last year and a severe dislocated elbow in Week 9. That being said, he's looked incredible in training camp, leaving the Washington Commanders thinking he can recapture what we all saw from him in 2024 — when he prevailed in the NFL Rookie of the Year odds.
The 25-year-old showed out during Wednesday's joint practice with the Miami Dolphins, throwing a touchdown to Terry McLaurin and newly acquired wideout Stefon Diggs. When it came to tucking the ball, Daniels' mobility was on full display, leaving no questions surrounding his health entering Week 1 of the regular season.
Tonight, however, expect him to have a clipboard in hand with a headset on, as the Commanders split QB reps between Marcus Mariota, Athan Kaliakmanis, and Sam Hartman.
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Washington Commanders Injury & Roster Status
Beyond Daniels, several key players on both sides of the ball will have their snap counts closely monitored.
Your full injury report:
| Player | Position | Status | Week 1 Outlook |
| Jayden Daniels | QB | Active / Expected Limited Reps | Expected Week 1 Starter |
| Stefon Diggs | WR | Active / Preseason Debut | Fully Cleared |
| Nick Allegretti | G | Questionable (Hamstring) | Day-to-Day |
Jayden Daniels Fantasy Football Outlook
Daniels enters the 2026 fantasy football draft season as a consensus top-10 dual-threat QB target, and he deserves to be one of the first five quarterbacks off the board now that he's fully healthy.
His average draft position (ADP) is No. 63 overall.
How to Watch Dolphins vs. Commanders
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Date: Friday, August 14, 2026
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Kickoff Time: 7:00 p.m. EDT
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Location: Northwest Stadium — Landover, MD
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TV Channel: WUSA9 (Local)
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Live Stream: NFL+ / Commanders Team App
