Jayden Daniels is on the shelf again for the Washington Commanders after dislocating his elbow for the second time in two seasons. This one came on the final play of the first half against the Dallas Cowboys, and it has everybody bringing out the pitchforks and torches for head coach Dan Quinn.
Again.
Quinn entered the 2026 season on at least a lukewarm seat. If the Commanders can't put together at least a respectable season, it might very well cost him his job.
Commanders critics are getting two critical things wrong with latest Dan Quinn smear campaign
Right now, that outlook is looking extremely bleak.
But it shouldn't be because of this.
Two fallacies combine to form the latest mountain of slander against Quinn.
The first is that fans and analysts are focusing on the outcome of the ill-fated play rather than the logic behind it.
"Dan Quinn needs to be gone ... it's time to fire him."@DHx34 #NFLPostgame pic.twitter.com/1SpahZKpY4
— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) September 20, 2026
Let's look at the Commanders' situation. They were on the one-yard line in a seven-point contest with one chance to score before time expired. Field goals wouldn't win this game. They needed a touchdown. So they went for one they had an extremely high probability of converting.
Yes, Washington came up empty. And yes, Daniels got hurt. That could have happened on any play of any game. If playing to win is too risky, then cancel football.
Had Quinn elected to kick a field goal and the Commanders lost by less than a possession, he'd be taking heat for that too, and rightfully so. But that's not how he operates.
Dan Quinn is under pressure, but it shouldn't be for the call that got Jayden Daniels hurt
In 2024, when Washington made the NFC Championship game, few teams in the NFL were more aggressive with their decisions.
When it works, it works. When it doesn't, at least you tried.
The other part of the Quinn conundrum is that naturally, because it's 2026, every coaching mistake must be fireable, and it must happen right this very second. The only problem is that, in Washington's case, who in the world do you replace him with?
The Commanders have two first-year coordinators. Not just their first year in Washington. Their first year in the NFL in their current role. The rest of their staff includes only one name who has ever been a head coach: Anthony Lynn.
Let's not kid ourselves. He's not an upgrade over Quinn.
If anyone is qualified and experienced enough to replace Quinn midseason, it would probably have to be special teams coordinator Larry Izzo. And you're not doing that unless it's an absolute last resort, with the head coach's locker room status broken beyond repair.
Quinn deserves some criticism for the way the last two seasons have unfolded. If he can't turn this ship around, he's probably out in January.
However, Washington would be ill-advised to make a rash decision just because emotional fans and analysts want change for the sake of it.
And you're certainly not firing him because his quarterback got injured on a play the Commanders needed to help them win.
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