For a while, it looked like the Washington Commanders could hold their own against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2. That didn't happen, and quarterback Jayden Daniels' dislocated elbow completely changes the team's entire outlook.
Daniels got hurt on the final play of the first half. It's the same elbow he dislocated last season, so something is clearly unstable within. The Commanders will have more imaging done before deciding on further action, but it doesn't look promising.
After Daniels went out, things completely unraveled.
The Commanders couldn't keep up, and head coach Dan Quinn is now staring at 0-2 with the Seattle Seahawks up next. And without Daniels for the foreseeable future, things could get a whole lot worse before they get better.
With several other influential figures dealing with injuries, Washington has endured the worst possible start. Unless everyone rallies in the face of significant adversity, the pressure will only build on Quinn and others in positions of power.
That's for the not-too-distant future. For now, here are three winners and five losers from Washington's Week 2 defeat.
Winners and losers from the Washington Commanders' demoralizing loss to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2
Loser No. 1
Rasul Douglas - Commanders CB
The Commanders' secondary was always going to have a difficult afternoon. Dallas' high-octane passing attack can put up points in a hurry, and even though Jayden Daniels did an admirable job of keeping up before getting hurt, the pressure broke them in the end.
There were several at fault. Rasul Douglas was among them. He gave up five receptions on six targets. The veteran cornerback looked a little slow on occasion, and the Cowboys had no trouble exploiting it.
Douglas wasn't alone in this regard. We'll get to the other culprit later in the piece, but the Commanders are counting on Douglas to provide more consistency moving forward to keep their campaign from falling completely by the wayside.
Winner No. 1
Stefon Diggs - Commanders WR
The Commanders might be in an early hole, but the offense is getting exactly what it needs from veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs. He's a playmaker, no matter who is under center, and he was comfortably Washington's most dependable option in the passing game.
Diggs isn't an elite burner anymore. He's not the dynamic WR1 who earned four Pro Bowl selections in his prime. But he knows how to get open, and the Maryland product always seems to come through in the biggest moments.
With five receptions from six targets for 47 receiving yards and two touchdowns, Diggs did his part. He caught scores from both Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota, and the veteran backup will need him more than ever now.
Diggs came to Washington primarily because he believed in Daniels. He won't be around for a while, but the wideout has to stay focused on the task at hand.
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