A highly anticipated battle between this year’s first two draft picks is still on.
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is officially active for Washington’s game against the Chicago Bears despite a rib injury suffered in Week 7.
Daniels sat out two practices this week before managing limited participation Friday, after which head coach Dan Quinn said the team would see how the QB responded over the next 48 hours.
Two days later, Daniels is back where he belongs under center.
The rookie sustained the rib injury in his first drive of last week’s game against the Panthers, his exit the only blemish in a 40-7 blowout that pushed Washington to 5-2.
Daniels has done it all for the Commanders, helping turn them into NFC East contenders while throwing for 1,410 yards, six touchdowns, two interceptions and a league-leading 75.6 completion percentage. He’s added four more scores and 372 yards on the ground, as well, and even before his early exit versus Carolina had already run for 50 yards.
His ability to suit up sets up a premier rookie matchup with Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, taken one spot ahead of Daniels in April’s draft at No. 1 overall.
As Daniels stacked up accolades and highlight-reel performances in the early going, Williams struggled to find his footing, but he’s recently turned things on with three consecutive victories -- the last of which came in a four-touchdown outing against the Jaguars in London before Chicago’s Week 7 bye.
With Caleb rested and ready, and Daniels healthy enough to play, the stage is set for the first NFL clash of their young careers.
Chicago (4-2) and Washington (5-2) kick off Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET.