Commanders fans' anxious wait as Jayden Daniels suffers rib injury
By Dean Jones
Jayden Daniels started Week 7 with a sensational rushing play that sent Northwest Stadium into delirium. The rookie quarterback kept a read-option and took off for a 46-yard gain. But there was something a little bit off after that.
The Washington Commanders pounded the rock consistently over the opening drive. Kliff Kingsbury wanted to test their depleted defense on the ground to see how they'd hold up. Daniels got another run shortly after his big gain. It came with significant concerns attached.
Daniels appeared to go down awkwardly. It looked for a second as if it might have been his knee. However, further investigations showed the former LSU star noticeably wincing in pain with a rib issue.
Commanders QB Jayden Daniels suffers rib injury in Week 7
He stayed in the game, handing the football off and making a couple of decent throws without getting into the end zone. Daniels got some treatment after the series. When the time came to warm up after the Panthers coughed up their second interception of the first quarter, the signal-caller couldn't do much.
The Commanders took Daniels into the locker room for X-rays and was listed as questionable. Marcus Mariota filled in for the rookie sensation, but the atmosphere completely shifted from elation to apprehension in the blink of an eye.
Hopefully, it won't be anything serious. The Commanders will only go as far as Daniels takes them in 2024. They can ill afford their new prized possession to miss a considerable period at a crucial stage of the campaign.
This is a developing story, but it's not hard to see why this could be so damaging to the Commanders. Daniels has completely galvanized the entire franchise since becoming the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft. If Washington lost him for even a couple of games, it could have grave consequences on their playoff aspirations.
Collective prayer is needed. And hopefully, Daniels gets a good prognosis. And based on the social media post from his mother, there isn't much cause for concern from within.