Jayden Daniels dislocates elbow, forcing Commanders to turn to Marcus Mariota

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow during a 37-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. This marks the second time Daniels has injured the same elbow in two years. While imaging results were negative for fractures, specialists are evaluating potential ligament damage to determine his recovery timeline and whether he will be placed on injured reserve.

Veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota is expected to start for the Commanders in the upcoming Week 3 game against the Seattle Seahawks and likely for multiple games during Daniels' absence. The team currently holds an 0-2 record.

Following the injury, a viral video showing players walking away from Daniels sparked social media criticism regarding team morale. Commanders head coach Dan Quinn and several players, including left tackle Brandon Coleman, dismissed these claims as “nonsense.” Quinn explained that the players were forced to move toward the locker room because referees could not delay the start of halftime, noting that the team was “absolutely gutted” by the injury.