NFL Insider Offers Encouraging News on Jayden Daniels’ Hamstring Injury

Rapoport addressed the injury Monday morning on “Good Morning Football,” clarifying what happened to the young quarterback and offering hope for Washington fans.

“We saw Jayden Daniels running into the locker room, was knocked out of the game,” Rapoport said. “Wasn’t clear at the time what the injury was, maybe it’s a knee, maybe it’s an ankle.

It’s actually a hamstring injury for [Daniels] on the play where he was trying to escape a sack and ended up kind of tweaking his hamstring.”Rapoport continued with an optimistic update, saying, “He’ll have an MRI today and some more tests. It didn’t seem like a major, major injury

and the fact that the Washington Commanders have an extra day this coming week… does give him a little more breathing room.”That “extra day” comes from Washington’s upcoming matchup on “Monday Night Football” against the Kansas City Chiefs, giving Daniels additional recovery time as the team evaluates his condition.

Dan Quinn and Commanders Respond to Daniels’ Injury

Following the game, Commanders head coach Dan Quinn told reporters that Daniels wanted to return to the field despite feeling the hamstring tightness a play before limping off. “He wanted to go back in,” Quinn said. “We’ll get the MRI and see what it shows.”

If Daniels isn’t cleared for Week 8, backup quarterback Marcus Mariota will step in. Mariota, who filled in earlier this season when Daniels missed time with a knee injury, has completed 31 of 48 passes for 363 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception over three games.

The Commanders’ offense has shown flashes of promise under Daniels, but his mobility and decision-making are central to their success. Keeping him healthy remains the team’s top priority heading into the second half of the season.

Fans Compare Jayden Daniels to Robert Griffin III — and Both Families React

After Daniels’ latest injury, some fans drew comparisons to former Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III, whose own career was derailed by knee injuries. That conversation didn’t sit well with Daniels’ mom, Regina Jackson, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to push back.

“I wish you would stop manifesting RGIII on my son. Words are powerful and that’s all that’s talked about,” she wrote.Griffin himself responded directly with a supportive message. “I have always supported Jayden Daniels and want nothing but the best for him,” he responded. “Being QB1 in Washington

DC comes with an intense spotlight that I know well. You love your son and the real fans do too. I want a long healthy career for him. He will always have my support.”

The 5-2 Los Angeles Rams enter their Week 8 bye in a unique scenario. This is the first time since the 2021 NFL season that the team has been this successful in the first seven games. And they've done so against some very formidable teams. Their impressive record puts them in a favorable spot for a playoff berth, and perhaps even home-field advantage.

So far, Los Angeles has not had an easy time of things. The team has a 4-0 record against all four AFC South Division teams, with an aggregate record of 13-13. Two losses have come at the expense of the 5-2 Philadelphia Eagles and the 5-2 San Francisco 49ers. The final win was a grueling victory over the Baltimore Ravens on a windy, wet Sunday in Week 6.

The Week 7 contest was expected to be a hard-fought contest between head coach Sean McVay and his former padawan, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Liam Coen. It wasn't. The wily McVay proved that he still has a bag of tricks and

used the never-before-seen 13-personnel formation to baffle the Jags' defense.

Biggest winners and losers from Rams' impressive Week 7 win over the Jaguars

The Horns never looked back in this one. They jumped out to a 21-point lead in the first half and then poured on two more touchdowns to close out the game. But not all was gold, as you will soon read.

Loser 1 - Running back Jarquez Hunter

Rookie running back Jarquez Hunter may never touch the football at this rate. In a Week 7 matchup that featured two offensive rookies, Hunter was a healthy scratch. Making matters worse, the team felt it was better not to have him available in a game, despite backup running back Blake Corum's recent ankle injury. This team loves to mothball running backs, and Hunter is just the next link in that dusty cobweb-covered chain.

Loser 2 - Punt coverage

While punter Ethan Evans booted the football five times for 242.4 yards, he continues to be a worrisome player for fans to see take the football field. Against the Jaguars, the punt coverage unit emerged by allowing just two punt returns by wide receiver Parker Washington for 19 yards. But an early punt return for 62 yards and a touchdown was fortunately nullified by a penalty. The team continues to struggle on special teams.

Winner 1 - Rookie wide receiver Konata Mumpfield

Konata Mumpfield caught his first career reception in Week 6 against the Ravens. How could he top that? Easy. By catching his first touchdown reception against Jacksonville. In the past two weeks, he has hauled in two of three targets for 12 yards and a touchdown. It's not much, but he is earning more and more trust, which is huge for a rookie in this offense.

Winner 2 - Rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson

Whenever a rookie scores his first NFL touchdown, chances are he will make a list of winners. So rookie tight end Terrance Ferguson

finally hauled one in for a score. Ferguson is getting in on the action a bit as well, catching one of three targets for an impressive 31-yard touchdown. So far this season, Ferguson has caught two of four passes thrown his way for 52 yards and a score.

Winner 3 - Outside linebacker Byron Young

It's mind-blowing to see what third-year outside linebacker Byron Young is doing on this defense this season. His 1.5 quarterback sacks place him at 9.0 for the season after just seven games. It also

extends his streak for quarterback sacks to nine consecutive games. Some scoffed when he promised to deliver double-digit sacks in the offseason. Nobody is doubting him now.

Winner 4 - Defensive coordinator Chris Shula

In two losses, LA's defense allowed an average of 29.5 points. In five wins, the defense has allowed just 11.6 points per game. Since getting embarrassed by the Niners in Week 5, Chris Shula's defense has allowed 10 points over two games. Suffice it to say that Shula made some adjustments.

It starts with the pass rush, which has sacked opposing quarterbacks 11 times in the past two games. Fans love him, and NFL teams will too when it comes time to hire new

head coaches at the end of the season.

Winner 5 - Wide receiver Davante Adams

While he has yet to break through the 50 percent catch rate, veteran wide receiver Davante Adams just proved

why he is crucial for the team's success this season. He caught five of eight looks for 35 yards. Three of those five receptions were touchdowns. Talk about making them count. Adams may not be putting up All-Pro numbers yet, but his six touchdown receptions lead the wide receiver room. That's what a veteran leader does.

Winner 6 - Quarterback Matthew Stafford

Quarterback Matthew Stafford has thrown for 1,866 yards in his first seven games. That is on pace to place him on or about the 4,500 passing yards mark for the season. He has thrown for 17 touchdowns to just two interceptions. That pace would pace him at 41 touchdowns to just five interceptions for the season. That would be a career-best mark.

And he is getting noticed, too. Per NFL analyst Sarah Barshop (with help from the ESPN Research team), the 37-year-old quarterback has thrown five touchdowns in his third consecutive decade, joining both Tom Brady and Kurt Warner as

only the third quarterback in NFL history to accomplish that feat.

Retirement? Don't be silly. He's in the running for an All-Pro season. And after connecting with 10 different players in Puka Nacua's absence, it's clear that this offense is not going to be silenced easily. As always, thanks for reading.