Daniels suffered the rib injury in the first quarter of Sunday’s 40-7 win over the Carolina Panthers. Marcus Mariota represented Daniels in his absence,

A leading candidate for the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year award, Daniels has been a lightning rod for the long-dormant Commanders franchise this season. In leading Washington to a 5-2 record and a lead in the NFC East through seven weeks, the No. 2 overall pick completed a league-high 75.6 percent of his passes for 1,410 yards, six touchdowns and two picks. Daniels also tallied 372 yards and four scores on the ground.

Mariota, a longtime veteran and a former No. 2 pick himself, was a solid understudy on Sunday, completing 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns and adding 34 rushing yards on 11 carries.

Although Mariota can dutifully fill in for the rookie, the Commanders – and the entire league – are certainly hoping Daniels can recover in time for Sunday. The Commanders-Bears game will pit Daniels and Williams in a battle of the top two picks in the 2024 NFL Draft and the favorites for the OROY Award; Just last week, the matchup was moved to the late timeslot (4:25 p.m. ET) in anticipation of the head-to-head race.

However, it looks like Washington is taking a long-term approach to Daniels’ health this week, prioritizing the rookie’s functionality over a potential blockbuster fight.

“He’s such a unique player that I want to make sure he can be himself in his own way,” Quinn said of Daniels. “I know he will do everything he can, but I will trust my eyes. Like I said, we will do it every step of the way.