Commanders' Daniels Leaves Loss to Cowboys With Dislocated Elbow

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was ruled out of Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys after dislocating his elbow late in the first half, and the Commanders went on to lose 37-20, according to NBC News.

Commanders coach Dan Quinn confirmed the dislocation after the game and said X-rays "showed no fracture." Daniels will undergo further testing Monday, Quinn said.

How did the injury happen?

Washington faced a decision at the end of the first half: the Commanders were one yard from the end zone with three seconds left and trailing 17-10. Rather than kick a field goal, Quinn sent Daniels out under center for a play. Daniels stumbled while dropping back to pass, reached out with his left hand to catch himself, and his elbow popped out of place as he hit the ground awkwardly. He was carted off the field.

Did Dan Quinn regret the play call?

Quinn defended the decision to go for the touchdown rather than attempt the field goal, saying Washington needed touchdowns, not field goals, to keep pace with Dallas's offense.

"Anytime someone is injured you play the what-if game; I don't think this is one of those times for me," Quinn said. "I hate that it happened. ... I wasn't hesitant about going into that spot. We wanted to be aggressive."

Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, who took over after the injury, offered a brief reaction: "It sucks."

How was Daniels playing before he left?

Daniels had completed 11 of 17 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, and he had added 69 rushing yards, before the injury ended his day. The 2024 AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year entered Week 2 looking for a bounce-back season after a difficult second year in the league.

By the Numbers

• 11-of-17 passing, 96 yards, one touchdown before leaving the game
• 69 rushing yards on the ground in the first half
• Final score: Cowboys 37, Commanders 20
• Daniels missed 10 games total in 2025, including four games from a previous elbow injury

What is Daniels' injury history?

Daniels, taken by Washington after his Heisman-winning career at LSU, dealt with multiple injuries during his second professional season. A separate elbow injury sidelined him for four games in 2025, and he missed 10 games overall that year. He came into 2026 healthy, though Washington opened the season with a loss to Philadelphia before Sunday's setback against Dallas.

Timeline

• Season opener: Commanders lose to the Philadelphia Eagles.
• Week 2, first half: Daniels completes 11 of 17 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, rushes for 69 yards against Dallas.
• Three seconds left in the first half, Commanders down 17-10: Washington runs a goal-line play instead of kicking a field goal; Daniels dislocates his elbow attempting to steady himself and is carted off.
• Second half: Marcus Mariota finishes the game at quarterback as Washington falls 37-20.
• Postgame: Quinn says X-rays showed no fracture; further testing is planned for Monday.

What's next for the Commanders?

• Monday's additional testing will determine the severity of the dislocation and whether Daniels needs further imaging or a procedure.
• Mariota is positioned to start if Daniels is sidelined, based on his role finishing Sunday's game.
• Quinn's postgame comments leave open how long a recovery timeline might run, though he did not specify a return date.
• Daniels' 2025 elbow injury cost him four games, a data point that may inform expectations for this setback.

Quinn's message after the game centered on Daniels rather than the loss. "Man, are we bummed for him," he said.

What does this mean for Washington's schedule outlook?

The Commanders enter Week 3 at 0-2, having opened the season with a loss to Philadelphia before Sunday's defeat to Dallas, according to NBC News. If Monday's tests keep Daniels sidelined for an extended stretch, Washington's offense will lean on Mariota, who finished Sunday's game after the injury.

Quinn's postgame comments framed the loss around Daniels' health rather than the scoreline. "Man, are we bummed for him," he said, a remark that came as X-ray results ruled out a fracture but left the broader recovery timeline unresolved pending further evaluation.

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