Jayden Daniels’ promising season took a devastating turn during the Washington Commanders’ Week 9 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. With just over seven minutes left in regulation, the rookie quarterback was sacked on a second-and-goal play near the 2-yard line.
As he went down, his left arm bent awkwardly under the weight of the tackle, immediately drawing concern from teammates and staff. Daniels clutched his elbow in pain as trainers rushed to the field. Though a cart was brought out, he refused it and walked to the locker room with an air cast wrapped tightly around his left arm.
Reports soon confirmed that he had suffered a serious left elbow injury, believed to be a dislocation. The team’s medical staff later said Daniels would undergo further tests, including an MRI, to determine the full extent of the damage.
Daniels had already battled multiple injuries earlier in the season, including a knee sprain and a hamstring strain, which made his presence on the field in garbage time hard to justify. That decision drew widespread backlash from fans and analysts alike, but none hit harder than former Washington quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III.
“I’m not a doctor, but all I know is the emotion of watching him with seven minutes left down 38-7. And my first thought is, ‘Why are they still in the game?’” Griffin said. “I understand, you wanna play till the end, but the injuries he’s already had this year and last year, why’s he in the game? Doesn’t make sense.”
WHY WAS JAYDEN DANIELS EVEN STILL IN THE GAME?!?!?! pic.twitter.com/p5giPL9oE3
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) November 3, 2025
Many fans and analysts agreed with him, arguing that protecting a franchise quarterback should always come before meaningless snaps in a lost game. The criticism painted a picture of poor situational judgment from the coaching staff and a lack of long-term thinking about the player’s health.
Dan Quinn on Jayden Daniels’ Injury
Head coach Dan Quinn expressed deep disappointment after the game. He confirmed that Daniels had suffered a left elbow injury but said the team was waiting for medical results before giving a timeline.
Quinn said he was “gutted” by the outcome and admitted that the night had gone completely wrong for his team. He suggested that Daniels’ movement on the play was part of his natural instinct to make something happen.
“Obviously, I’m just gutted by it, just bummed,” Quinn said. “The one he was injured on is usually a run or a throw to the flat…it’s not a scramble. So, it wasn’t a designed read or play into that spot. If we run it 50 times, it’s either hand off or a throw 50 times.”
His comments did little to calm critics, as many saw the injury as preventable.
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