The Washington Commanders find themselves in a familiar — and unfortunate — situation after star quarterback Jayden Daniels left Sunday’s game with a dislocated left elbow. After undergoing further testing Monday, Daniels will meet with specialists to consult on the injury, Commanders coach Dan Quinn said Monday.
Quinn added the team won’t have a major update on Daniels until those meetings happen. For now, however, the Commanders are not looking to bring in another quarterback.
Daniels sustained the injury on the final play of the first half in a 37-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. With the Commanders looking to score before halftime, Daniels took a snap from under center, but awkwardly tripped during his drop back. As he was going to the ground, Daniels used his left arm to brace himself.
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After chucking the ball incomplete, Daniels lay on the turf until he was eventually carted off the field.
It was a gruesome injury, one that caused Tom Brady — who was in the broadcast booth — to utter an expletive live on the air. Brady quickly apologized for swearing.
After the contest, the Commanders head coach revealed Daniels was dealing with a dislocated left elbow. Quinn added that X-rays did not show a fracture, but that Daniels would undergo additional testing Monday.
It’s an injury that Daniels has dealt with before. The 25-year-old missed four games last season due to a dislocated left elbow. He returned to action, but re-injured himself in his first game back and was shut down for the rest of the year. Quinn said Monday that surgery was not mentioned last season, with a source telling ESPN that Daniels did not sustain ligament damage last year, which is why surgery was not recommended at the time.
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That injury completely derailed what was supposed to be a star-studded second season for the quarterback. As a rookie, Daniels looked like a future superstar. After being selected No. 2 overall from LSU by the Commanders, Daniels threw 25 touchdowns against nine interceptions as a rookie, leading Washington to the playoffs and making the Pro Bowl in his first year.
His numbers took a massive downturn in Year 2 due to various injuries. Daniels started just seven games last season, tossing eight touchdowns against three interceptions.
With those injuries seemingly behind him, Daniels opened the 2026 NFL season looking to get back on track. After a slow start in Week 1 against the Philadelphia Eagles, Daniels rallied late to nearly lead his team to a win.
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The quarterback was off to a modest start against the Cowboys before leaving the contest at the end of the first half.
With Daniels once again sidelined, the Commanders will turn to veteran Marcus Mariota in Week 3. The 32-year-old Mariota performed admirably when pressed into action last season, but went just 2-6 in his eight starts.
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