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Commanders QB Daniels Out for Game After Elbow Injury
Confirmed
In Short: Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was ruled out for the remainder of the Week 2 game against the Dallas Cowboys after suffering an elbow injury.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was ruled out for the remainder of the Week 2 game against the Dallas Cowboys after suffering an elbow injury late in the first half.
Daniels was having an excellent first half, completing 11 of 17 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, and adding 69 yards rushing.
The injury occurred with the Commanders at the Cowboys' 1-yard line with three seconds left in the first half.
Daniels appeared to hyperextend his elbow after getting stepped on and trying to brace his fall.
The Commanders failed to score on the final play of the first half, leaving them trailing 17-10.
Daniels was carted off the field and underwent X-rays, with the team officially ruling him out after halftime.
This is a significant setback for the Commanders, who were looking to avoid a 0-2 start.
Daniels has had a history of elbow injuries, including a dislocation last year that sidelined him for several games.
The Commanders' decision to run a play from the 1-yard line with three seconds left instead of kicking a field goal proved costly.
Prior to the injury, Daniels was having one of his best performances in a while, but the team's hopes for a strong start were dashed.
The Commanders' offensive struggles were compounded by the loss of Daniels, who had shown promise in his rookie season.
With Daniels out, the Commanders will need to rely on Mariota and their defense to turn the game around.
What this adds
The exact nature and severity of Daniels' elbow injury are still being determined.
The Commanders' decision to run a play from the 1-yard line with three seconds left instead of kicking a field goal was a critical mistake.
The team's hopes for a strong start to the season are now in jeopardy due to Daniels' absence.
Background
Malik Nabers, recovering from a torn ACL, remains uncertain about playing in the New York Giants' season opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
What's confirmed
- Jayden Daniels has been ruled out for the remainder of the Commanders ' Week 2 game vs. the Cowboys after an apparent left elbow injury in a disastrous end-of-half sequence.
- Daniels, who dislocated the same elbow last year, appeared to suffer a similar-looking injury.
- Quarterback Jayden Daniels was carted off the field after he suffered a gruesome injury to his left elbow on the final play of the first half.
What's still developing
- He originally hurt the elbow in Week 9, missed three weeks, returned in Week 14 and then landed on the elbow, forcing him out of action again.
- Shortly after, Daniels went into the X-ray room, according to FOX Sports' Tom Rinaldi.
- Daniels fumbled the snap and his arm awkwardly went in the wrong direction as he frantically tried to complete a pass from the 1-yard line.
- The pass fell incomplete, keeping the Cowboys' lead at 17-10.
- Daniels was in immediate pain, favoring his left arm and couldn't leave the field without assistance.
- A couple of minutes later, the cart arrived and Daniels left the field.
- He dislocated his elbow late in the 2025 season in a matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
- Daniels slipped taking the final snap of the first half — it looked like guard Chris Paul stepped on Daniels foot right after the snap — and he stuck out his arm to brace himself.
- His elbow looked out of place after watching the replay.
- Daniels tried to finish the play and failed to convert a shovel pass to Rachaad White.
- Daniels stumbled while dropping back to pass and reached out with his left hand in an attempt to steady himself, but his elbow popped out of place as he awkwardly reached for the ground.
- Veteran Marcus Mariota started the second half for the Commanders in place of Daniels.