All in or nothing: Jayden Daniels reveals his mental battle plan for injury comebacks

CLEVELAND, Ohio — The difference between good and great NFL players often isn’t physical talent—it’s mental fortitude.

On Wednesday, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels pulled back the curtain on the psychological battle that elite athletes face when returning from injury, demonstrating why his ironclad mindset could be his most valuable asset.

When asked about mentally setting aside injury concerns once he returns to the field, Daniels’ response was unequivocal.

“If I’m out there, I’m not even thinking about it. If I was worried about something, then I wouldn’t be playing,” Daniels said. “If I’m out there on the field, I’m going to be confident in myself and my abilities to to go out there and execute and play football.”

This all-or-nothing approach reveals the binary thi