Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels sustained a dislocated left elbow during Sunday night’s 38–14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, adding to what has already been a challenging season for the team.
The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter with Washington trailing 38–7. Daniels pulled the ball on a read-option play and attempted to evade a Seattle defender before awkwardly landing on his left arm. As he rolled to the ground, his elbow bent at an unnatural angle, prompting immediate concern. Commanders medical personnel rushed onto the field, immobilized the arm, and escorted Daniels to the locker room for further evaluation.
After the game, head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Daniels had suffered a left elbow injury but said he hadn’t considered removing his starting quarterback despite the game being well out of reach: “Obviously, I’m just gutted by it, I’m just bummed. We didn’t have any read plays on [the play call], and the one he was injured on is usually a run or a throw to the flat. It’s not a scramble. It wasn’t a designed read or play into that spot. If we run it 50 times, it’s either a handoff or a throw 50 times.”
According to reports from The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala, X-rays taken Monday morning were negative, with NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noting that while Daniels is scheduled to undergo an MRI to determine the extent of ligament damage, “the belief is it’s not as bad as it could’ve been.” Even so, the 23-year-old is expected to miss several weeks, with the team evaluating whether to place him on injured reserve.
The setback comes amid a rocky sophomore campaign for Daniels, who has already missed time due to ankle and hamstring injuries earlier this season. After a standout rookie year in which he earned Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and led Washington to a 12–5 record, the Commanders have struggled to recapture that success, falling to 3–6 following Sunday’s defeat. Daniels completed 16 of 22 passes for 153 yards and an interception against Seattle, adding 51 rushing yards and a touchdown on 10 carries before exiting the game.
Veteran backup Marcus Mariota took over under center and managed to lead a touchdown drive in Daniels’s absence. Mariota has started three games this season when Daniels was sidelined, compiling a 1–2 record with four touchdown passes, four interceptions, and a rushing score across four appearances.
Washington will likely continue with Mariota as the starter, with Daniels expected to be sidelined for multiple weeks. The Commanders next face the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Nov. 9.
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