Jayden Daniels vs. Robert Griffin III comparisons: How Commanders QB injuries are causing parallels to RGIII

No one could blame the Washington Commanders and their fans for having sky-high expectations after Jayden Daniels took the long-suffering franchise to the NFC championship game in year one, but those expectations have not been met in 2025.

Daniels has looked fine when on the field, but nagging injuries have kept him off of it for portions of the season, and the Commanders have suffered as a result. Washington enters Week 8 at just 3-4, two losses away from matching their 2024 loss total.

A rockier second season for Daniels has some wondering whether his tenure is at risk of going the way of another former No. 2 pick who wore burgundy and gold. 

Here's what you need to know about the growing comparisons between Daniels and Robert Griffin III as a difficult sophomore season for the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year continues.

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Jayden Daniels vs. Robert Griffin III comparisons

The parallels between Daniels and Griffin are hard to ignore: both were dual threats, were Heisman Trophy winners, both were No. 2 overall picks, both won Offensive Rookie of the Year and both led Washington to a surprise playoff berth in year one.

Injuries could be the latest parallel between the two quarterbacks.

Many point to Griffin's knee injury in 2012 as the beginning of the end for his career. A sensational rookie at the time, Griffin suffered a knee sprain late in the season but returned and started Washington's playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks. He suffered a torn ACL and LCL in that game, earning criticism for coach Mike Shanahan and the team's training staff.

While Griffin returned for the start of the 2013 season, he didn't look like the same quarterback, struggling until his benching in mid-December. The Redskins opened 2014 with Griffin as their starter, but a dislocated ankle knocked him out for an extended period, and Kirk Cousins took over as the team's starter in 2015 with Griffin still on the roster.

The parallels between Daniels and Griffin probably stop at injuries. While Daniels has been injured as much as he has been healthy in 2025, he hasn't suffered anything remotely close to the severity of Griffin's 2012 ACL and LCL tear. Daniels did suffer a knee sprain, which Griffin dealt with before his more serious injury, but the Commanders quarterback appeared to be fully recovered from the knee issue when he suffered a mild hamstring injury against the Dallas Cowboys.

There isn't any indication Daniels has played through an injury he shouldn't have been playing through, unlike Griffin, and he has played fairly well in 2025 even if it's not quite at the level of his 2024 production. 

Daniels' mother, who is a vocal supporter of his on social media, heard some of the Griffin comparisons and politely asked for them to stop. "I wish you would stop manifesting RGIII on my son," she tweeted on Oct. 20.

I wish you would stop manifesting RGIII on my son. Words are powerful and that's all that's talked about 🙏🏽🙏🏽

— Mz Jackson (@LovelyMzJackson) October 20, 2025

A strong and healthy finish to the season by Daniels could help put some of those comparisons to rest, but he may have a serious hole to dig out of in the NFC if he wants to return to the playoffs.

MORE: When is Jayden Daniels coming back?

Robert Griffin III injury history

Knee sprain (2012)

Griffin initially suffered a knee sprain in Week 14 of his rookie season and missed one game, with Cousins making his first NFL start in his fellow rookie's place. Griffin returned for Week 16 with Washington hunting a playoff spot, a decision that might now be known as one of the most consequential in franchise history.

ACL and LCL tear (2012)

Griffin exited the Redskins' playoff loss to the Seahawks with a torn ACL and LCL in a scene that changed the course of franchise history. Griffin would return to play Week 1 just eight months later, but he later called the decision to play so soon "the biggest regret of my career."

Dislocated ankle (2014)

Griffin had a chance at redemption in 2014 with the starting job in hand, but he went down with a dislocated ankle in Week 2. The injury wasn't season-ending as initially feared, so he was able to get back on the field, but Griffin missed a major opportunity to find a rhythm for the first time since his rookie season.

MORE: Why Matthew Wright is replacing Matt Gay as Commanders' kicker vs. Chiefs

Jayden Daniels injury history 

Rib (2024)

Daniels suffered a rib injury in October 2024 but did not miss any time. He was listed as questionable all the way until the Commanders' matchup with the Chicago Bears on Oct. 27, and Washington's offense was mostly ineffective until Daniels found Noah Brown for a legendary Hail Mary touchdown that secured an improbable win.

Knee sprain (2025)

While he played the full game against the Green Bay Packers in Week 2, it was reported days later that Daniels was dealing with a knee sprain. The injury would force him to miss two games before returning against the Los Angeles Chargers.

Hamstring (2025)

Daniels exited a matchup with the Dallas Cowboys with a hamstring injury, keeping him off the field for at least one game. While the injury isn't considered serious, it came at a difficult time for the Commanders with the Kansas City Chiefs and Seattle Seahawks next on the schedule.