Overview
- On Sunday, Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocation of his left (non‑throwing) elbow on a third‑and‑goal play and was carted off the field.
- Initial X‑rays showed no fracture and Daniels returned with the team for MRI and further testing to assess ligament damage and instability.
- The Commanders expect Daniels to miss at least some time and have turned to veteran Marcus Mariota as the starter for the near term.
- Sports‑medicine experts say a repeat dislocation raises the likelihood of surgical stabilization, which could lead to a multi‑month recovery and threaten Daniels’ season.
- Daniels was the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year and previously dislocated the same elbow in November 2025, a history that has increased scrutiny of the play call and the team’s approach to protecting him.