Head coach Matt Eberflus and the Chicago Bears are gearing up for two possible quarterbacks this week as they face the Washington Commanders. Jayden Daniels, dealing with a rib injury, may not be able to play after leaving last week’s game against the Carolina Panthers during the first drive. Despite his absence, Washington easily secured a 40-7 victory. According to Commanders’ head coach Dan Quinn, Daniels missed Wednesday’s practice. He still has two days to participate, but if he’s unavailable, backup Marcus Mariota could start against the Bears on Sunday afternoon.
Eberflus noted that the Bears’ defense will be ready for both quarterbacks, acknowledging that while Washington’s offense is similar with either player, each quarterback brings a unique style. “Our plan will be our plan, and we’ll adjust. We will have a contingency for who is in there [at quarterback],” Eberflus said. Daniels has been a strong Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate, but Mariota proved his abilities last week.
The veteran quarterback threw for 205 yards, two touchdowns, and posted a 132.8 passer rating in the win over Carolina. Eberflus praised Mariota’s experience and Week 7 performance, saying, “Just the experience factor. He did a nice job if you look at his rating last week—efficient, effective, pretty much the whole game. Obviously, you saw the score, so he did an outstanding job.” Mariota also contributed on the ground with 34 rushing yards on 11 carries. Both quarterbacks pose a dual-threat challenge, with Daniels having the stronger arm. Regardless of who starts, Eberflus assured that the Bears’ defense will be prepared. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:25 p.m. following a schedule change ahead of Week 7.
