Jayden Daniels' mobility with a difference
Jayden Daniels was moving well. The Washington Commanders gave him the freedom to improvise, and he made the most of it, giving the Dallas Cowboys' defense major problems when he broke out of containment to gain big yards on the ground.
Daniels has always been an exceptional runner. The Commanders needed him to refine this slightly heading into the season and limit the risk of unnecessary punishment. And the way he slid in good time to avoid contact showed he'd taken the harsh lessons from last season on board.
Unfortunately, bad luck elsewhere didn't stop him from getting hurt.
Either way, it was nice to see Daniels operating with a little more composure when escaping the pocket. Sadly, it wasn't enough.
Jayden Daniels disaster could end Commanders season before it begins
The dejection was evident immediately after Jayden Daniels went down. Watching his elbow bend the wrong way was horrifying. It was also the same elbow he'd struggled with so much last season, which raised further concern.
Daniels was immediately ruled out. It instantly brought the mood down, and everyone feared the worst.
There is a good reason for that.
For all the improvements Washington made this offseason, this team will only go as far as Daniels takes them. He's the franchise player and one of the league's most promising young quarterbacks. If he is forced to miss another significant stretch on the sidelines, the Commanders' chances of bouncing back will go up in smoke.
Marcus Mariota is serviceable, but he is not Daniels.
This is an absolute disaster for the Commanders. Daniels was looking to remind the world of his gifts this season while also improving his chances of a bumpier new contract when he becomes eligible after the campaign. Everything is now up in the air, a body blow this club may not recover from in the short term.
It was no doubt difficult for the players after watching Daniels' gruesome injury. They tried valiantly to keep up, but it was almost impossible without the star quarterback. And with a difficult run of games upcoming, things are going to get a lot worse before they get better.
All fans can do is hope the news is positive. It's demoralizing, heartbreaking, and the last thing head coach Dan Quinn needed. Overcoming adversity is nothing new for Daniels lately, but this potential setback couldn't have come at a worse time.
Let's hope for good news. Because if it's anything else, the Commanders have got a big-time problem without the one guy who can drag them up when nothing else is working.
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