Jayden Daniels is hurt again, and optimism is in short supply
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As if losing to the Cowboys wasn't painful enough. Photo: Amanda McCoy/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Acceptable reactions to Jayden Daniels dislocating his left elbow during the Washington Commanders' loss Sunday to the Dallas Cowboys:
- Not again.
- "Oh s***." — Tom Brady, live on Fox.
- At least the Mystics are in the playoffs …
Why it matters: The Commanders are 0-2 and have the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on deck. But right now, the standings feel secondary.
The big picture: Daniels' injuries are piling up. Following a rookie season that convinced Washington it finally had a franchise quarterback, injuries derailed his sophomore year. A recap of 2025:
- Week 2: Sprained knee, missed two games.
- Week 7: Hamstring injury, missed one.
- Week 9: Dislocated left elbow, missed three.
- Week 14: Aggravated the elbow injury in his return and was shut down for the season.
The latest: Daniels is undergoing more testing Monday. Coach Dan Quinn said there's no fracture and is scheduled to speak with reporters again at 3pm.
Between the lines: This region already has RG3 PTSD. The parallels with Robert Griffin III, Washington's last great hope in 2012, are hard to ignore:
- Dual-threat QB
- Heisman winner
- No. 2 draft pick
- Rookie of the year
- Potential superstar
- Then, mounting injuries.
Reality check: It's premature to say Daniels is headed down the same path. But durability questions followed Daniels into the league.
- Some analysts wondered before the draft whether his 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame could withstand NFL violence — particularly given how much of his brilliance comes from running.
Flashback: When Daniels dislocated his elbow last year, Quinn took the blame. The game was out of hand, and Daniels was still running the ball trying to score.
This time is different.
- On one hand: It was a fluke. An offensive lineman stepped on Daniels' foot and the QB awkwardly braced himself. Could have happened any time.
- On the other: Maybe Washington should have settled for a field goal. It was the final play of the half, and the Commanders came away with nothing but an injured QB.
What they're saying: "I wasn't hesitant about going into that spot," Quinn said Sunday. "I thought we were going to be aggressive into this game against their offense, so I don't regret that."
The bottom line: Blaming Quinn misses the bigger problem: How do the Commanders keep Daniels healthy without limiting him?