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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will start Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings after missing four games with a dislocated left elbow, head coach Dan Quinn announced Friday. Daniels was a full participant in practice Thursday and Friday.

The second-year quarterback last played on November 9 before sustaining the injury against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9. He dislocated his left elbow when he braced his fall during a scramble with Washington trailing 38-7.

X-rays and an MRI revealed no structural damage, enabling his return. Daniels said he only felt pain in his elbow for two days following the injury.

Quinn said the decision to start Daniels was made collectively by the medical staff and the quarterback himself. The team conducted extensive post-practice work with contact to evaluate Daniels\' readiness.

\"The throwing part, he\'s been on that the whole time. That\'s looked as sharp as ever,\" Quinn said.

Quinn emphasized the importance of Daniels playing with five games remaining in his second season. The Commanders are 3-9 and have lost seven consecutive games.

\"It\'s important for him, for his teammates,\" Quinn said. \"All these matter. As he\'s developing, there are certain things he has to work on, too, to be as competitive and take care of things.\"

Daniels rejected suggestions he should sit out to stay healthy for next season.

\"Who\'s to say I\'m not going to go into next year healthy?\" Daniels said. \"We take it one day at a time and before I was getting paid I was playing it for free. I have that passion for the game.\"

Daniels has appeared in parts of six games this season due to multiple injuries. He previously missed two games with a sprained left knee and one game with a right hamstring injury.

Last season\'s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year has thrown for 1,184 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions this season. He has also rushed for 262 yards and two scores.

Washington will face Minnesota\'s fifth-ranked passing defense on Sunday. The Commanders will have their top three receivers available for the first time since Week 2, with Noah Brown expected to be activated from injured reserve.

Via John Keim/ESPN