**Washington Commanders' Rookie QB Jayden Daniels Absent Again as Sunday's Game Looms**

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was notably missing from practice on Thursday for the second consecutive day. A photo shared by Commanders beat reporter John Keim showed Marcus Mariota and Jeff Driskel at practice, with Daniels nowhere in sight. The absence is due to a rib injury he sustained during the opening drive of the Commanders' recent victory over the Carolina Panthers. As uncertainty looms over his participation in Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears, Washington head coach Dan Quinn has emphasized that he is not ruling Daniels out just yet.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Washington plans to have Daniels attempt practice on Friday. This session will be crucial in determining his availability for Sunday’s matchup. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury stressed the importance of protecting Daniels from additional harm if he does take the field, particularly against Chicago’s aggressive pass rush.

"I think that's what we have to figure out when it comes down to making the decision of whether he's going to play or not," said Kingsbury. "You want him to be able to play this game, but you want to almost protect him from himself... he's a fearless competitor, he's going to attack the moment, so I think collectively as an organization we've got to make sure he's full throttle and can play the way he wants to play before we put him out there."

Kingsbury's remarks indicate that the option of playing Daniels remains open. However, the organization is prioritizing his long-term health to avoid exacerbating his injury by rushing his return. The coaching staff will assess his condition in Friday’s practice to make a well-informed decision.

Over in Chicago, Bears head coach Matt Eberflus mentioned that his team is preparing for Daniels but is also ready with a contingency plan for Marcus Mariota should Washington opt to rest their rookie quarterback. As game day approaches, both teams are making final preparations to adapt to the potential last-minute changes in player availability.