Overview
- Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow on Sunday during Washington’s Week 2 loss to the Dallas Cowboys when a teammate stepped on his foot and he braced his fall.
- Postgame X-rays showed no fracture but the Commanders said Daniels will have an MRI and additional tests to evaluate ligament damage and to determine if surgery is required.
- Marcus Mariota replaced Daniels in the second half and will start while the team manages Daniels’s recovery and Washington’s 0-2 start.
- Medical experts warn a repeat dislocation raises the odds of surgical repair and a multi-month recovery that could cost Daniels significant time or the season.
- Daniels was the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year and previously dislocated the same left elbow in 2025, a history that fuels questions about player protection, coaching decisions on the final play before halftime, and the emotional toll on the team.