Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels got encouraging news after consulting with specialists. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the starter — who suffered a dislocated left elbow in Week 2 — is expected to return in about three weeks or possibly sooner.
When he does come back, Daniels is expected to wear a brace on the injured elbow. Commanders general manager Adam Peters indicated Friday that the problem was not as severe as originally feared, saying surgery isn’t being considered. Peters also noted the team has not discussed placing Daniels on injured reserve, which would have sidelined him for at least four games.
The injury closely mirrors the one Daniels experienced in Week 9 last season, when he dislocated his non-throwing elbow and missed four weeks (three games) before returning — only to re-injure it in his first outing back. Still, this latest prognosis is largely good news after Daniels appeared to be in significant pain during the Week 2 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Replays showed Daniels stumble over a lineman’s foot while backpedaling; as he reached out to break his fall, his left arm bent awkwardly at the elbow, prompting a shocked reaction from Fox broadcast analyst Tom Brady.
There was immediate criticism of how some teammates reacted during the incident after footage circulated showing players walking toward the tunnel at halftime while Daniels remained on the field. Only backup quarterback Marcus Mariota was seen approaching him in that clip, leading some to question locker-room dynamics. That interpretation proved misleading: teammates had actually gathered around Daniels before head coach Dan Quinn directed them to the locker room.
Further evidence that the team supports Daniels: ESPN’s John Keim reports that when Daniels told the locker room he would only be sidelined a few weeks, parts of the room cheered and gave him a standing ovation. In the meantime, Mariota will again take over as the starter. While he was a competent fill-in last season, the team went 2-6 in his starts. The Commanders are hoping Mariota can hold down the job for a short stretch while Daniels heals and tries to avoid another setback as he aims to return to the level he showed as a rookie, which helped lead Washington to an unexpected playoff appearance.
Fan take: This is a relief for NFL fans — having Daniels back quickly keeps Washington’s promising offense intact and preserves the season’s competitive balance. How Daniels recovers will matter beyond one team: if he returns fully healthy, it reinforces the importance of conservative rehab for young QBs; another setback could reshape the Commanders’ outlook and ripple through playoff projections.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
