Jayden Daniels' injury leaves his status for Week 3 in doubt, and fans in DC are traumatized by the past.

The Washington Commanders are facing a critical decision at quarterback as they prepare for Sunday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Jayden Daniels sprained his left knee during last week's loss to the Green Bay Packers, raising questions about his immediate availability. With a late-week practice window closing, time is running out.

Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Daniels underwent an MRI, which showed no structural damage, but stopped short of guaranteeing his return. "What does that mean for Sunday? I can't tell you that right now," Quinn explained, via CBS Sports. Quinn said the team hopes to know more after Friday's practice.

If Daniels cannot go, veteran Marcus Mariota is next in line. For The Win reported that Washington continues preparing both quarterbacks, mindful of a 1-1 start and the need to avoid falling further behind early in the season.

Columnist Bob Molinaro of the Virginian-Pilot warned against rushing the 23-year-old back, arguing that "prudence must prevail" given Daniels' role as the face of the franchise.

While reporters focus on medical updates, local radio captured the more profound emotions at play. Appearing on BMitch & Finlay on 106.7 The Fan, Peter Rosenberg described why the discussion feels heavier than a typical injury question.

"Am I okay if Jayden Daniels plays on Sunday? Assuming he's good to play on Sunday, I'm totally fine with it," Rosenberg said. "I know we're traumatized. We're traumatized in the city, with bad decision-making, and people will start thinking of Mike Shanahan and RG3. But I don't think that's the situation here."

Rosenberg referenced the infamous moment in January 2013 when Robert Griffin III suffered a devastating knee injury during a playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. Despite being visibly hurt in the final games of the season, then-coach Mike Shanahan left him in, and the fallout of his subsequent injury effectively derailed Griffin's career.

For many fans, that memory still lingers. Rosenberg spoke to the scars from that day, making every quarterback injury feel magnified in Washington. He added that Daniels' family should play a role in the decision, saying, "I just hope he makes the right choice."

The parallels aren't exact -- Daniels' sprain is far less severe than Griffin's torn ligaments -- but the unease is real. Griffin was the most electrifying young quarterback in football when his career shifted in one afternoon. Daniels, now in his second season, is viewed in similar terms as Washington's hope for long-term stability.

That context explains why Quinn and the Commanders are treading carefully. Sitting Daniels for one game may put Washington at a higher risk of going 1-2, but history has shown the cost of rushing a quarterback back before he is ready.

Daniels remains listed as day-to-day, and Washington is expected to wait until the end of the week before making a decision. But as Rosenberg noted, the nerves in the city run deeper than a simple injury report. For fans who lived through the collapse of Griffin's career, every quarterback setback feels heavier -- and that lingering trauma is impossible to ignore.

For a city still haunted by RG3's collapse, the decision carries weight far beyond Sunday.