One area where Daniels can improve is availability. Multiple injuries robbed Daniels of 10 games in 2025, and while health setbacks can often be nothing more than bad luck, Daniels’ absence proved how valuable he was to the Commanders, a team that reached the NFC Championship Game in 2024 and fell all the way to 5-12 in 2025.
It’s an experience Daniels hopes he won’t have to endure again anytime soon.
“I mean, it was miserable,” Daniels said. “I wouldn’t say it was what I wanted or that it was fun for me, because I love football. But the passion didn’t change. It made it more, I guess, a miserable feeling not being able to go out and do what I have to do every day with setbacks.”
Washington is running it again with the same offensive line in 2026, but added a few that could help open up what was an incredibly stagnant offense last season. The Chiefs signed Van Jefferson receiver Chigoziem Okonkwo, brought back Dyami Brown and added running back Rachaad White to the mix, giving Daniels more options.
Ultimately, though, Washington’s fate will rest on the shoulders — and health — of Daniels. If he truly is the master of the offense as has been suggested, the Chiefs could prove that their difficult 2025 season was nothing more than a fluke.