Second-year quarterback Jayden Daniels was a one-man show for the Washington Commanders in Week 9. He was fighting a losing battle, and it eventually became his undoing in the cruelest way imaginable.
Daniels was still in the game during a blowout versus the Seahawks, midway through the fourth quarter. He fell awkwardly after striving to get into the end zone, and the concern was immediate. Anyone fortunate enough not to see the replay should keep it that way; it was a gruesome fall that saw a cast immediately being placed on the signal-caller's left arm.
All fans could do was look on in horror. They'd already seen Luke McCaffrey and Marshon Lattimore go out of the game, on top of all the injury problems this team has dealt with throughout the season. This was the last thing anyone wanted to see, and it all but writes off any slim hopes the Commanders have of salvaging anything from the campaign.
Jayden Daniels suffers gruesome injury in Commanders blowout loss
Obviously, further tests will be conducted before anything is confirmed. But looking at the issue in real time, it would be a bombshell of epic proportions if Daniels retook the field in 2025.
A campaign that promised much has completely gone off the rails. Daniels suffered knee and hamstring injuries that caused him to miss time earlier in this season. And now, an arm injury is going to keep him out for a lot longer.
Questions will be asked about why Daniels was still in the line of fire when he was getting pummeled in a meaningless game throughout the second half. He's a competitive guy who wants to be on the field at all times. But the coaching staff should have recognized this situation for what it was and reacted accordingly.
This is a harsh lesson, and Daniels has paid the price. And there is just no telling where the Commanders go from here.