Jayden Daniels injury update takes sting out of Caleb Williams' next test

When the Chicago Bears entered their bye week following their Week 6 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, fans were disappointed that they would have to wait for one of the more highly anticipated quarterback matchups of the 2024 NFL season.

The Bears are set to play the Washington Commanders on Sunday but in a game that was flexed due to the matchup between Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, the appeal of the game may have taken a hit. In the Commanders' victory over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Daniels suffered a rib injury and didn't play during the second half of the game.

While initial tests seemed to confirm that Daniels avoided a fractured rib injury, Commanders' head coach Dan Quinn labeled the rookie quarterback's injury as week-to-week.

Highly anticipated matchup between Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels may not happen.

While Quinn said he was hopeful that Daniels would be able to play on Sunday, it's rare for a player to open the week with a week-to-week injury designation before playing in the next game on Sunday.

If Daniels is unable to play on Sunday, that would delay the matchup between the top two quarterbacks taken during the 2024 NFL Draft. While Daniels opened the season as the overwhelming consensus to be the NFL's offensive rookie of the year, Williams' performances over last three weeks has firmly placed him back into the conversation. Nonetheless, regardless of Daniels' status come Sunday, Williams has a chance to continue his ascension against a Commanders' defense that the Bears torched last season.

Veteran Marcus Mariota would get the start for the Commanders on Sunday if Daniels is ruled out. In place of Daniels on Sunday, Mariota completed 18 of 23 passes for a total of 205 yards and 2 passing touchdowns.