Jayden Daniels Exits Early as Commanders Collapse in Minnesota
Jayden Daniels’ return didn’t go as planned-and it didn’t last long either. After missing time with a dislocated left elbow, the Washington Commanders rookie quarterback was back under center Sunday in Minneapolis. But midway through the third quarter, he was back on the sideline, his day cut short by a hard fall on that same injured elbow.
The play that sent Daniels to the medical tent came on a fourth-and-1 from the Vikings’ 30-yard line. With the Commanders trailing and looking to stay in the game, Daniels rolled left and fired a pass-only to see it snagged by Minnesota edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel.
Van Ginkel took off down the sideline for a 40-yard return, but the real damage came behind the play. As Daniels pursued the return, Vikings corner Isaiah Rodgers delivered a two-handed block that sent him crashing to the turf, landing directly on his previously dislocated elbow.
Daniels immediately headed to the sideline and into the medical tent. He was officially listed as questionable to return, but never made it back onto the field.
His final line: 9-of-20 passing for 78 yards, with four carries for 16 more. At the time of his exit, Washington trailed 14-0.
Mariota Takes Over, But the Struggles Continue
With Daniels sidelined, veteran Marcus Mariota stepped in-but the offense didn’t find any new life with the change. Mariota’s first drive ended in a three-and-out, capped by a third-down sack. To make matters worse, tight end Zach Ertz suffered a right leg injury on the same series and had to be helped off the field.
Things only unraveled further from there.
On the next drive, Mariota was picked off by Vikings safety Harrison Smith, who returned the interception deep into Commanders territory. Minnesota quarterback J.J.
McCarthy wasted no time, hitting tight end Josh Oliver for his second touchdown pass of the afternoon. Just like that, the Vikings were up 24-0 late in the third quarter.
Early in the fourth, Mariota’s ball security issues continued. A fumble led to another turnover, this time recovered by Minnesota defensive lineman Javon Hargrave at the Commanders’ 16-yard line.
The Vikings again made Washington pay, with McCarthy connecting with tight end T.J. Hockenson on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line.
That score pushed the lead to 31-0 and capped McCarthy’s first career three-touchdown performance.
What’s Next for Washington?
For Washington, the loss stings-but the bigger concern is Daniels' health. The rookie has shown flashes this season, and the Commanders are clearly building around him. But Sunday was a reminder of how quickly things can unravel when your quarterback goes down and the backup can’t stop the bleeding.
The Vikings, meanwhile, continue to ride the momentum of a young quarterback who’s gaining confidence each week. McCarthy looked poised and efficient, especially in the red zone, and got plenty of help from a defense that forced three turnovers and kept Washington off the scoreboard from start to finish.
As the season winds down, the Commanders will be hoping Daniels’ elbow injury isn’t a long-term issue. Because if Sunday showed anything, it’s that this team’s fortunes still hinge on their rookie QB being on the field-and staying there.