Jayden Daniels will miss the Washington Commanders’ Week 3 game against the Seattle Seahawks, and the big question now is how long the team will be without him after that dislocated elbow he suffered against the Dallas Cowboys last Sunday. The injury looked ugly enough to make Tom Brady curse, and it landed at a brutal time for a Commanders team that came into the season hoping to contend in the NFC East.
For Daniels, the timing is even tougher. He lost most of last season to injuries, and this latest setback arrives during a rough stretch off the field as well.
After drawing criticism for not wanting another LSU player to wear his No. 5 jersey, he was due for football to do the talking. Instead, the internet got busy dissecting body language.
That started because Daniels was hurt on the final play of the first half, when FOX cameras caught his teammates heading toward the tunnel as halftime approached. A short clip was enough for some to spin a storyline that Washington had somehow “abandoned” its quarterback. The reaction was swift from inside the locker room.
“ It’s bull -- what people are saying,” Washington left tackle Brandon Coleman said, via John Keim of ESPN. “Jay’s our guy, and he’s been our guy. There’s no malice behind it.”
“All that stuff is ridiculous,” tight end Ben Sinnott said. “As far as the love and brotherhood we have for Jayden, it’s really strong. We’ve seen how hard he worked to get to where he’s been.
Dan Quinn also pushed back on the idea that the team ignored Daniels. He said referees told him halftime could not be delayed because of the injury, which meant everyone had to get moving and try to reset for the second half.
There was also video from JP Finlay that showed Washington players gathering around Daniels before Quinn sent the group into the locker room.
It’s a strange debate to be having, but Washington clearly wanted the record straight. The more urgent issue is Daniels’ health, because the Commanders are already 0-2 and can’t afford to let this situation drag on much longer.
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Commanders Face A Tough Home Opener Without Jayden Daniels
Marcus Mariota will get the call at quarterback for Washington in Sundays Week 3 home game against Seattle, giving the Commanders a very different look as they try to open the home slate without Jayden Daniels. Daniels remains sidelined with a dislocated left elbow, and with no set return timeline yet, the team is still waiting on more clarity after he consults specialists.
Dan Quinn has already made the move official, and it points to an offense built more around quick passes than the dual-threat approach Daniels brings when he is healthy. For Washington, the challenge is not just replacing a starter, but reshaping the entire rhythm of the attack at a point in the season when every early game already carries extra weight. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Face Growing Week 3 Concern Ahead Of Seahawks Game
The Commanders are heading into their Week 3 home game against the Seahawks with a running list of injury concerns, and the picture got a little murkier after several key players showed up on the practice report. Linebacker Frankie Luvu, tight end Chig Okonkwo, guard Sam Cosmi and safety Nick Cross are among the names dealing with injuries or illness, with the team trying to manage both availability and workload as the week moves along.
For Washington, the issue is not just who is on the field, but how many players can get enough practice time to be ready for Seattle. Several other Commanders are still working through various injuries and have been tagged as limited or full participants, leaving the team with more questions than answers as it tries to steady the lineup before Sunday. [Read more 🡒]