The Denver Broncos and Washington Commanders will each be coming off their bye week when they square off on Sunday Night Football in Week 13, and both teams are hoping to get some key players back on the field.
The Broncos will hope that Pat Surtain II and Alex Singleton can rejoin the defense. The Commanders would like to have their starting quarterback, Jayden Daniels, back on the field. Daniels has only played in six games this season and had missed the team's last two contests after suffering a dislocated elbow in the team's November 2 game against the Seattle Seahawks.
However, on Monday, Washington head coach Dan Quinn said he will be "unlikely to play" in Sunday's game. That means that Marcus Mariota will draw another start.
#Commanders QB Jayden Daniels was evaluated coming out of Washington’s bye and sources say this Sunday’s game against the #Broncos is a long-shot.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 24, 2025
But Daniels will return to practice this week. Progress from his dislocated elbow. Pic.twitter.com/XEj2LRgj7j
No disrespect to Mariota, but the Commanders are a much more dangerous team with Daniels playing. Last season's Offensive Rookie of the Year had a tremendous first year in the league, taking the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game. When the 2025 schedule was created, the thought of having last year's top two rookie quarterbacks — Daniels and Bo Nix — was perfect for prime time television.
Instead, Mariota, who is 1-4 as a starter this season, will likely get the ball again.
With this game taking place on the road, having to face a returning Daniels may have presented a steep challenge for the Broncos, despite Washington's 3-8 record. Though they can't overlook the abilities of Mariota, it will be a much easier team to defend against with him out there.
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