Dan Quinn and Jayden Daniels speak to the media before practice
The Washington Commanders were inside the practice bubble today due to high winds, and a lighter practice schedule today. Dan Quinn gave some injury updates before practice. Austin Ekeler’s 21-day practice window was opened today, and the team is pumped to have him back on the field. He’s returning from his second concussion this season, and isn’t likely to play his first week back.
Marshon Lattimore re-injured his left hamstring vs the Eagles, and didn’t play vs the Falcons on Sunday. He was on the side field today, and is also unlikely to play vs the Cowboys in the season finale. Andrew Wylie was close to playing last week, but sat out with a groin injury. He wasn’t at today’s practice, along with Cornelius Lucas who injured his groin vs the Falcons.
Quinn said the team is going to fight like hell to keep the 6th seed if it means they have the chance to play a home game in the playoffs. He remembered when the team was 7-5 after a three game losing streak and the 7th seed was in question. The team wants to keep what they earned and keep winning, especially with the season finale being against the Cowboys.
Dan Quinn
LIVE: HC Dan Quinn speaks to the media before practice https://t.co/GQoqMxPNcV
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 1, 2025
Austin Ekeler:
Dan Quinn addressing the media. The Commanders opened up the 21-day window for Austin Ekeler and the head coach said it was awesome to have him back. Marshon Lattimore will be one of the players doing some rehab on the side today
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) January 1, 2025
Dan Quinn on Ekeler: “It’s great to have him back. … There’s a spring in his step, for sure, and we’ll go through the whole process … but we’re really pumped to have him back.”
Quinn said Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) will be working on the side today.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 1, 2025
Austin Ekeler joined the team in a walkthrough this morning.
Quinn: “To have back on the field today was really cool.”
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 1, 2025
Marshon Lattimore:
Dan Quinn said Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) will continue rehab on the side field today.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 1, 2025
Andrew Wylie:
Dan Quinn said RT Andrew Wylie (groin) is “working back into it” and will get more practice reps tomorrow.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 1, 2025
Dan Quinn said RT Andrew Wylie was close last week to playing; trending up.
On Ekeler: “There was a spring in his step… really pumped to have him back on the field.” No word on when he might be activated.
On Lattimore: Will be doing rehab work on the side today (speed drills)— John Keim (@john_keim) January 1, 2025
No Andrew Wylie or Cornelius Lucas at practice today. Sounds like Wylie is trending the right way.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 1, 2025
Adam Peters:
Dan Quinn on Adam Peters and relationship “It’s been all I hoped for!”
They watch practice together every afternoon and discuss/manage the roster together.
Same messaging to the team. Do things the right way and together.
— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) January 1, 2025
Cowboys QB Trey Lance:
DQ on possibly facing Trey Lance this weekend: “Trey is a fantastic player. He’s a real athletic outside the pocket player. I always enjoyed spending time with him.”
— George Wallace (@GWallaceWTOP) January 1, 2025
Fast start vs Falcons:
Dan Quinn: “I love how we started the game” against the #Falcons, with the Quan Martin INT turned into a TD.
— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) January 1, 2025
Mike Sainristil penalty:
Quinn says on the Mikey Sainristil penalty for offsides taking the field goal off the board – was a teaching moment because he re-adjusted after the snapper moved the ball.
They want him to set initially and basically stay.
— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) January 1, 2025
Marcus Mariota:
In a game where the #Commanders were fighting for their playoff lives, the world saw QB Marcus Mariota go up to QB Jayden Daniels to talk during a timeout. The moment has since gone viral once Daniels shared exactly what Mariota said to him in that moment.
Today, I asked HC Dan… pic.twitter.com/sRCXdRUNdA
— CWallSports (@cwallse) January 2, 2025
Dan Quinn on Marcus Mariota : “A remarkable week” with sickness and flying, family…
..was working with Jayden on blitzes/sideline in first half.
Says was clearest form of brotherhood that he’s seen.
“He adds a lot”
— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) January 1, 2025
Dan Quinn just spent a couple minutes praising what Marcus Mariota has meant to Jayden Daniels. His wife had a baby last week; had to miss time; tough to prep; yet in 1st quarter was relaying info on Atl blitzes to JD. Big help. provided lots of support.
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 1, 2025
Homefield advantage:
Dan Quinn “That was a homefield advantage” and “It meant a lot” #Commanders
— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) January 1, 2025
6th seed:
Dan Quinn said it’s important to chase the No. 6 seed because it still gives his team the chance to play at home in the playoffs.
Quinn said he saw the power of home field advantage on Sunday night vs. Atlanta. He thought the crowd really gave the team a boost. pic.twitter.com/EN5bbULUoJ
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 1, 2025
Quinn on the 6th seed: “We’re going to work our ass off to keep it.”
— John Keim (@john_keim) January 1, 2025
Jimmy Carter:
Asked #Commanders Dan Quinn about meeting President #Carter during his time in Atlanta. Said it was their first meeting and it was a memorable one.
Quinn introduced himself and the former president laughed, saying he knows who he is because he watches every game.@7NewsDC pic.twitter.com/VogKEMPPTM
— Natalie Spala (@_nataliespala) January 1, 2025
It was Jayden Daniels turn to speak to reporters after practice. He’s not focused on Pro Bowl voting. He said it would be a blessing if he got it this year, but if not, there’s always next season. Daniels thanked the fans who have voted on this award, and every other award he’s been up for during his historic rookie season.
Jayden Daniels isn’t worried about playoff seeding, he just wants to win the next game, and the next game after that. This will be his first game at AT&T Stadium, and he’s 0-1 vs the Cowboys. He said it means something to beat them, and to finish their season on a high note.
Daniels was asked how his body felt after going into overtime against the Falcons, and taking some hits near the end of the game. He said he “didn’t take no hard hits, just regular hits”.
Jayden Daniels
LIVE: QB Jayden Daniels speaks to the media after practice https://t.co/Fg3QBsvhIT
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) January 1, 2025
Pro Bowl:
Jayden Daniels on making the Pro Bowl – It would be cool to make it but if not I’ll try again next year pic.twitter.com/V4iQpjuNEd
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 1, 2025
Jayden Daniels on potentially making the Pro-Bowl “I don’t follow it at all!”
Allows that it would be a blessing to be named.
— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) January 1, 2025
Jayden Daniels on the Pro Bowl (will be announced Thur am): “it would be a blessing. It’s not really something I look too into but If I’m announced it would be a blessing. If not, I’ll try again next year.”
on the fan voting: “Much love for our fan base…”— John Keim (@john_keim) January 1, 2025
Terry McLaurin’s ball-tracking:
Jayden Daniels on Terry McLaurin’s impressive ball-tracking skills. pic.twitter.com/x3RkYLMoKE
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) January 1, 2025
Big-time moments:
Daniels on all the big-time moments this year: “Cherish them all because you never know what’s going to happen in the future.” pic.twitter.com/Jx8XiaYhvF
— George Wallace (@GWallaceWTOP) January 1, 2025
Marcus Mariota:
Jayden Daniels on Marcus Mariota’s help “He’s been like that since day one”
— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) January 1, 2025
Ending the season with a win in Dallas:
Jayden Daniels addressing the media. Said it means something to get a win over Dallas, not just for the sake of seeding but also because they want to end the regular season on a good note
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWC) January 1, 2025
Playoff seeding:
Jayden Daniels is “just focused on Dallas” when asked about playoffs, etc.
— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) January 1, 2025
Cleaning up turnovers:
Jayden Daniels says one thing to work on this week is cleaning up turnovers, want to get that locked up before the playoffs
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 1, 2025
Kliff Kingsbury:
Jayden Daniels says he’s learned a lot about how competitive Kliff Kingsbury is, “he wants to dominate. He wants to win.” Jayden said he and Kliff are on same page and always wants to be aggressive
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 1, 2025
No hard hits vs the Falcons:
Jayden Daniels says he feels fine after Atlanta. He ran a lot but didnt think there were any hard hits. Daniels is Washington’s leading rusher the last 3 games
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 1, 2025
Jayden Daniels on if his body felt any different this week after an OT game, 16 rushes and a few hard hits??
“I didn’t take no hard hits!” Says he feels totally fine. #Commanders
— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) January 1, 2025
Marcus Mariota
Crazy week:
Last week was quite the week for Commanders backup QB Marcus Mariota.
He was sick, his wife had a baby on Christmas Day and then made it back for the Falcons game.
Marcus said, “it was a crazy week, but one that I will remember for the rest of my life.” pic.twitter.com/jmSNScw3dL
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 1, 2025
Jayden Daniels:
Mariota: “Week-in and week-out, we don’t really get maybe, what is on tape. I think we get a lot of un-scouted looks just because of how well he’s been playing.”
MM says sometimes it takes JD a few series to figure out what opponents are trying to do that they haven’t shown.
— Chris Russell AKA the ! (@Russellmania621) January 2, 2025
Brian Robinson Jr
Starting faster vs the Cowboys:
The Washington Commanders offense did not have their best first half last week.
They don’t want that to happen again versus the Cowboys.
Commanders RB Brian Robinson Jr. said, “we have to start off hot. We can’t wait until we get hit in the mouth to do what we do best.” pic.twitter.com/kZEhutdIdw
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 1, 2025
Chris Rodriguez Jr
Beating the Cowboys:
It’s the last game of the regular season for the Washington Commanders.
Up next, the Dallas Cowboys.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. told @_nataliespala, “there’s a lot of revenge for me. I’ve never beat the Cowboys.” pic.twitter.com/4NnuoebUv7
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 1, 2025
Brandon Coleman
Team mentality:
Amazing season so far for the Washington Commanders.
Sunday they face the Cowboys, then it’s the playoffs.
On the team’s mentality, Brandon Coleman told @_nataliespala, “just how invested everybody is…even if we don’t execute that will to win together carries us a long way.” pic.twitter.com/0pgQHmOTPo
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 1, 2025
Bobby Wagner
Jayden Daniels:
Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels started 2025 by continuing to talk trash to LB Bobby Wagner: pic.twitter.com/n0U2V0eDbd
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 1, 2025
Context on the reading comment: Bobby reads a lot and has joked for a while that Jayden doesn’t know how to.
Excerpt from this article:https://t.co/YhI0rrIHUP pic.twitter.com/ctOu7FtHUK
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 1, 2025
End the season on a high note:
Bring on the Cowboys!
Washington isn’t worried about the playoffs right now, they want to beat Dallas on Sunday.
Bobby Wagner told @_nataliespala, “you want to go into the postseason on a high note.” pic.twitter.com/ePPvT3IapT
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 1, 2025
Pro Bowl:
Pro Bowl rosters are announced tomorrow morning. Here’s Bobby Wagner, on what it’d mean to him to get No. 10: pic.twitter.com/jthAi7ZAi2
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) January 1, 2025
Mike Sainristil
College vs NFL season:
Mikey Sainristil jokes that this NFL season doesn’t feel that long because last year at Michigan was a much longer season than Jayden Daniels had at LSU pic.twitter.com/QUIDIBcP0i
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 1, 2025
Quan Martin
Brotherhood:
It’s been a special season for the Washington Commanders.
The players know though they have a lot of football left this year.
Quan Martin told @_nataliespala, “we always lean on our brotherhood. Just doing it for the guy next to you…never taking a moment for granted.” pic.twitter.com/5DcxEVfOGB
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) January 1, 2025
Practice notes
Austin Ekeler:
Austin Ekeler back at practice. That will be a huge burst if he’s able to come back for Wild Card pic.twitter.com/ZYwHn8J54R
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) January 1, 2025
Practice bubble:
Commanders inside for practice for a windy day (18 mph with gusts up to 36). pic.twitter.com/NFuKNJmtEL
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) January 1, 2025