Jayden Daniels wanted to play. He threw every day, ran drills, and pushed through rehab after his knee injury in Week 2 against the Packers. But Washington knew this wasn’t a moment for heroics. The Commanders officially ruled him out for Sunday’s matchup with the Raiders, and make no mistake, it wasn’t just about one game. This was about protecting the future of a franchise quarterback.

To have your starting quarterback sit out Week 3 is tough, yes. Yet, “This did really seem like a decision that was not a difficult one for the Commanders,” NFL insider Ian Rapoport said. And why was it “not difficult“?

“One reason for that is because Marcus Mariota is their backup quarterback. He’s making a lot of money for a backup quarterback, $8 million. That is high, high end for backups,” added Rapoport. “The reason you pay these guys this much money is you want to be able to make good, sound, smart decisions about your starter.” Mariota is guaranteed $7.39 million. Washington wasn’t spending big just for depth; they were buying peace of mind.

“Could Jayden Daniels play this week? He probably could. He could hobble out there and be some sort of starting quarterback at less than 100%, be better probably than most. But it is the right, smart decision for the organization to rest him and make sure he’s healthy,” Rapoport continued. Moreover, Mariota has proven that he can deliver.

Last season, he stepped in for Daniels twice, completing  77.3% of his passes, throwing four touchdowns, and leading the team to wins over Dallas and Carolina. “If called upon, we would certainly expect Marcus to deliver in the fashion that he does,” head coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday. “He has been like a real standard as a Commander, player [and] teammate in elite ways.”

Mariota, too, is ready to go, and has made it clear that the prospect of facing his former team, the Raiders, doesn’t make his eye twitch. “My routine stays the same,” he said. “It just kind of creates that normal procedure for me, and it allows me just to go out there and play and not have to worry about, OK, I got to do this extra, I got to do that. I just kind stick to my process and allow that process to work.”

Mariota’s decade of NFL experience will come in handy, and it allows the team to rest Daniels without panic. What’s more? Ian Rapoport was not the only one in support of the Commanders’ decision.

Commanders get support from former QB over Jayden Daniels decision

Sometimes, the best endorsement comes from someone who’s been there. Robert Griffin III didn’t waste time in revealing his stance after Washington announced Jayden Daniels would sit out for Sunday’s game. And for those who understood the hidden pain, his words carried serious weight.

“The Washington Commanders are doing the right thing with Jayden Daniels by not playing him with a knee injury. Don’t play with his long-term future for short-term gain,” RG3 tweeted. He added, “All players want to play, but it is the organization’s job to protect the player’s future. Bravo.”

He isn’t generalizing, but speaking from his own life story. Griffin tore his LCL and ACL while playing through a pre-existing injury in the 2012 playoffs. And he was not the same after. Now, he doesn’t want Jayden Daniels to fall victim to the same fate.

Daniels’ knee isn’t just sore, it’s a warning sign. Last year, he took them to the NFC Championship after 33 years. So, the Commanders see a long-term future with him. Missing a few games isn’t worth wasting such an eye-grabbing talent.