Jayden Daniels’ afternoon against the Dallas Cowboys turned brutal in a hurry.
The Washington Commanders quarterback was in the middle of a strong first half in Week 2 when disaster struck on the final play before halftime. Daniels was trying to squeeze in one more snap before a field goal attempt, but the sequence unraveled fast: his foot was stepped on by his guard, he lost his balance, and when he reached out with his left arm to brace himself, the pressure appeared to dislocate his elbow. The scene looked alarmingly similar to the injury he suffered last November.
Daniels tried to get off the field under his own power, but he went down and had to be carted off.
Tom Brady, who was on the Fox call, reacted instantly to the replay with, “Oh sh-”
At halftime, Dallas was ahead 17-10, and Marcus Mariota took over at quarterback when Washington came back out for the second half.
Before the injury, Daniels had put together a productive opening half, going 11-of-17 for 96 yards and a touchdown while also rushing for 69 yards on seven carries.
The injury adds another painful chapter to Daniels’ recent run of bad luck. He had already dealt with a leg injury against the Cowboys last season and also a left elbow injury.
After not missing a game during his rookie season, when he won Rookie of the Year, he ended up playing in only seven games last season. Washington entered Week 2 coming off a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in its opener.
In Other News...
Commanders Face Early NFC East Test With Extra Attention On Sunday
The Commanders head to AT&T Stadium on Sunday for an early NFC East measuring stick against the Cowboys, and it comes with the kind of spotlight that tends to follow this rivalry. Kickoff is set for 4:25 p.m. ET on FOX, with Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady on the call and Shawn Hochuli working the game. Dallas enters as a 3.5-point favorite, which only adds a little more edge to a matchup that already carries more weight than a typical September game.
For Washington, it is the sort of Week 2 test that can start to shape how the division race is viewed before it really settles in. Road games in Dallas rarely feel routine, and the combination of the stage, the opponent and the early-season stakes gives this one an immediate sense of importance. Even in September, NFC East games tend to linger, and Sunday offers the Commanders a chance to make a statement before the season gets any older. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Gave Commanders Fans Another Reason To Circle Sunday
The Week 2 meeting between the Commanders and Cowboys was already going to carry its usual edge, but Dallas added another layer of fuel with a social media post that quickly became its own talking point. The Cowboys shared a photo of linebacker Shemar James celebrating after a sack of Jayden Daniels, and the image showed the Washington quarterback injured on the play and out for the rest of that game.
The reaction came fast, with plenty of debate over whether the post crossed a line, and Dallas eventually deleted it. For Washington fans, it was one more reminder that this rivalry does not need much help getting personal, and Sunday now comes with a little extra bite beyond the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Stefon Diggs Just Added More Heat To Commanders-Cowboys
Stefon Diggs already gave Washington a costly jolt on the field, and the NFL added another layer to it this week. The league fined Diggs $14,926 for jumping on the goalpost after scoring a touchdown against Philadelphia, a celebration that drew a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and fed directly into Washington's decision on the extra point attempt.
For a Commanders team already dealing with injuries to key defensive players ahead of Dallas, it is another reminder of how thin the margin can be in these NFC East games. The Commanders do not need extra distractions in a matchup with the Cowboys, but Diggs' latest penalty keeps the temperature up around a rivalry that already had plenty of it. [Read more 🡒]