The Washington Commanders fought with everything they had against the Dallas Cowboys. But in the end, it just wasn't enough.
And there was much more to worry about than a second straight loss to start the season.
Of course, the injury to quarterback Jayden Daniels sucked the life out of this one. The Commanders were highly competitive before that, and they fought a losing battle after.
It wasn't all bad, but the Commanders are now in a hole. And if Daniels' prognosis isn't promising, this season may have ended before it even began.
That's for the future. For now, here are 11 instant reactions from Washington's defeat at AT&T Stadium.
Instant reactions from the Washington Commanders' Week 2 loss against the Dallas Cowboys
Jayden Daniels' injury changes everything
The Commanders were well in the game until disaster struck. Jayden Daniels suffered an injury to the same elbow he dislocated and re-aggravated last season. While the severity hasn't been disclosed, this all but ended Washington's chances of beating the Cowboys and could have major ramifications for their ability to compete this season.
Obviously, everyone is hoping for the best. But considering Daniels has hurt the same elbow before, it doesn't look especially promising.
Rachaad White ran well
Rachaad White was a non-factor in the first game of the season. He didn't look sharp and was something of a dud when much more was expected. Fortunately, the free-agent signing looked much more like his old self in Week 2.
There was an extra sharpness to White's approach. He ran the football urgently and got out of his routes with much more efficiency. He made things happen with the ball in his hands, and it represented a solid foundation to build on moving forward.
That will be more difficult without his former college teammate under center, but White must use this as a springboard for better fortunes.
Javon Kinlaw finally got a sack
The long wait is over for Javon Kinlaw. After failing to register a sack all of last season, the defensive lineman got off the mark against the Cowboys in Week 2. Though it didn't matter much in the grand scheme of things, it's something he can build on moving forward.
Kinlaw, who was questionable with a back injury, was also Washington's best-performing defensive lineman. Not exactly a high bar, but it was encouraging nonetheless. The South Carolina product looks well suited to playing as a 3-4 defensive end in Daronte Jones' system, and after a 2025 campaign littered with errors, a corner may have been turned.
However, he got hurt late in the contest. That's another problem for Washington to deal with at the worst possible time.
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