Quarterback Jayden Daniels Injured in Commanders’ Game

During Sunday’s matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was taken off the field on a cart at halftime. This happened after he seemed to injure his left elbow in the final moments of the first half, and it looked really painful.

It unfolded on a play where Daniels pulled away from the center but tripped. In that awkward moment, he tried to brace himself with his left arm, which, well, didn’t go as planned. His elbow bent in a way it’s definitely not meant to.

Post-game, Coach Dan Quinn confirmed that Daniels had dislocated his elbow. Thankfully, X-rays came back clear of fractures. However, it’s apparent that after an MRI on Monday, he would be sidelined for a while.

In the meantime, Marcus Mariota is set to step in as the quarterback until Daniels can come back. “We will rally so hard around Marcus until, you know, Jayden’s back,” Quinn stated, trying to project confidence in this tough situation.

This news is particularly disheartening given that Daniels faced a similar injury back in 2025 against the Seattle Seahawks. So, this could potentially be a significant setback for both him and the Commanders this season.

Dr. David Chao, who has considerable experience as a physician in the NFL, examined the injury through video analysis and commented that it looked like a clear left elbow dislocation, possibly hinting this might not be the first time it happens. He noted that when a joint gets dislocated a second time, it often does so more easily because the initial ligament damage can cause it to heal in a looser state.

Even though the injury was focused on his arm, Daniels was carted off while covering his head with a towel, seemingly to hide his emotions from the crowd. If the MRI results indeed reflect what was visible to everyone else, the Commanders might find themselves in a precarious position just two weeks into the season.

If Daniels indeed faces a similar rehab journey as last season, it could be tough for him. He had dislocated his left elbow while scrambling in a game against Seattle in November 2025 as well, which didn’t involve any fractures or ligament issues, allowing him to avoid surgery.

Last season, in the games that Mariota started while Daniels was out, the Commanders ended up with a 2-6 record, which doesn’t bode well for their current situation. Daniels returned in Week 14 against Minnesota but aggravated the injury and was sidelined for the last three weeks to focus on his recovery for the following season.

Now, it seems like that recovery process might be put on hold again, at least temporarily. Quinn acknowledged that it was difficult to see Daniels dealing with such a setback, mentioning that he hadn’t spoken to him until after the game and that the atmosphere was quite somber and emotional in the locker room, especially considering all the effort Daniels put into making his comeback.