NFL’s Christmas Day Games Diminished by Absence of Key Quarterbacks
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The NFL’s Christmas Day slate, once anticipated for its high-stakes divisional rivalries, has lost much of its luster as three starting quarterbacks are sidelined due to injuries, dimming the playoff implications fans had hoped for. The holiday matchups between the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders, the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings, and the Kansas City Chiefs and their opponents will proceed without the presence of some of the league’s most pivotal signal-callers.
In Landover, Maryland, the NFC East battle between the Cowboys and Commanders will unfold without Jayden Daniels, the Commanders’ promising second-year quarterback who led the team to the NFC Championship Game last season. Daniels was shut down after reaggravating an elbow injury, and his backup, Marcus Mariota, is also sidelined with an injury. Veteran Josh Johnson will start for the 4-11 Commanders, a team that had hoped to build on last year’s success but now faces a diminished outlook. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott, meanwhile, remains active but the game holds little playoff significance as both teams have been eliminated from contention.
“When you do circle those matchups, that’s exactly what you’re thinking: This is going to be cool. How it’s all laid out — division games right here at the end between two games of Philadelphia with a Dallas game in between,” said Commanders head coach Dan Quinn. “Playing these division games, they still mean a lot.” Yet, with both squads out of playoff reach, the rivalry will be fought mainly for pride.
Later in the day at U.S. Bank Stadium, the NFC North showdown between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings will also be missing a key quarterback. The Vikings will be without J.J. McCarthy, their second-year quarterback who suffered an injury in last week’s win over the New York Giants. Max Brosmer, who struggled in his first career start against the Seattle Seahawks, will take the helm once again. Head coach Kevin O’Connell hopes the home crowd will energize the team and help Brosmer improve on his previous outing.
Meanwhile, the Kansas City Chiefs will also be without their usual starting quarterback, further impacting the excitement surrounding the holiday games. The Chiefs’ relocation plans to Kansas with a new dome stadium by the 2031 NFL season have been a topic of interest, but the immediate focus remains on how injuries have reshaped the final week of the regular season.
This spate of injuries underscores the physical toll the NFL season exacts on players and the unpredictability that teams face as they vie for playoff positioning. Fans looking for marquee performances on Christmas Day will instead witness a series of contests marked by resilience and adaptation.
For more on NFL schedules and injuries, visit the NFL official site. Injury updates and player statuses are regularly posted by the USA Football organization. For broader sports coverage, including the NFL’s playoff picture, ESPN’s NFL section provides detailed analysis. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers insights into sports injury prevention and player health.
As the NFL season draws to a close, the absence of these quarterbacks serves as a reminder of the challenges teams face in maintaining peak performance and the ever-changing dynamics that make professional football both thrilling and unpredictable.
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