Video 49ers a threat if they stay healthy; Can Jayden Daniels return to elite form? | FTF Former NFL QB Brian Hoyer joins Danny Parkins and Coach Eric Mangini to discuss how dangerous the San Francisco 49ers could be if they stay healthy and whether Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels can return to form this season.
Head coach Dan Quinn is entering his third season in the District, and dynamic quarterback Jayden Daniels is looking to reclaim his star trajectory; Washington is aiming to prove that last season’s sub-.500 stumble was purely a health-related fluke and that they are ready to contend once again in the NFC East.
The Commanders suffered through an injury-ravaged 2025 campaign, dropping 10 of their final 12 games to finish 5–12 and missing the postseason entirely. Jayden Daniels was limited to just seven starts while battling persistent injuries, missing 10 full games and forcing Washington to lean heavily on backup signal-callers. With an offense operating at half-strength and a defense that surrendered over 6.0 yards per play, Washington finished near the bottom of the league in DVOA and lost quite a few one-possession heartbreakers.
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Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn is on the sidelines before the start of an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks in Landover, Maryland, on Nov. 2, 2025. (Nick Wass/AP Photo)
Re-establishing momentum required general manager Adam Peters to prioritize trench depth and defensive reinforcements from January through August. The headlining move came along the front seven, as Washington signed pass rusher Charles Omenihu to bolster the edge rotation and brought in former Michigan safety Sonny Styles via the draft to inject athletic versatility into the secondary. The front office also re-signed key interior trench pieces, keeping offensive guard Sam Cosmi locked up alongside defensive tackle Daron Payne, while adding offensive line depth with veteran additions to protect Daniels.
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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) looks to pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 19, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
This could be a pretty solid offense provided Daniels returns to his rookie year health and production. Terry McLaurin has been awesome and should see a boost with Daniels under center regularly. Stefon Diggs is older, but still a solid option and gives Daniels a good second option. Jacory Croskey-Merritt was productive, and I think he should be one of the better backs in the league. I’d like to see him get 15-20 touches a game instead of the 10-15 he was getting last year.
Defensively, Dan Quinn’s unit features established star power up front with Daron Payne anchoring the interior and Omenihu pushing the pocket off the edge. However, depth in the secondary remains a focal point, as young talent and new additions like Styles will be tested early against division rivals.
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) celebrates a first down against Detroit Lions during the second half of the NFC Divisional round at Ford Field in Detroit on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025. (IMAGN)
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The team features a line of 6.5 for their win total. I think the Commanders should be able to get over that. If you give them essentially the same team as last year, and some of those one-score losses go their way, you are getting over the total. Dallas should be better, and I’d expect the Giants to be improved as well, but I do think the Eagles take a step back. I like the over 6.5, but I’m not sure how much further over they will go. The improved defense, better health, and strong enough offense should make this work.
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