This was supposed to be the first matchup featuring the top two picks in the 2024 NFL draft, and the kickoff was even flexed to the late afternoon once Daniels and Bears quarterback Caleb Williams got their respective teams off to encouraging starts to the season. But Daniels left the Commanders’ 40-7 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 7 with a rib injury and his status for Sunday remains in doubt.

It doesn’t change the fact that the Commanders (5-2) are atop the NFC East and the Bears (4-2) are more competitive than most anticipated in the preseason, with intriguing supporting casts providing a platform for their rookie quarterbacks to have success right away.

Chicago has reeled off three wins in a row, with Williams building momentum with each successive performance before the team’s bye last week. He completed nearly 80 percent of his passes in the Bears’ most recent win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Daniels, meanwhile, leads all NFL starters in completion percentage (75.6) running a revamped scheme spearheaded by new offensive coordinator and former Arizona Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury.