It's been another turbulent week for Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn. And the pressure has inevitably built regarding his long-term outlook with the franchise.
Everything that could go wrong has gone wrong for Quinn at the start of the campaign.
The Commanders are 0-2 after road losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. Morale is low, and Washington could be without even more influential players due to injury this weekend when the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks come to town.
Those players include quarterback Jayden Daniels, which is nothing short of catastrophic.
Dan Quinn is fighting against the tide after Commanders start 0-2
Daniels sustained another dislocated elbow in Dallas, the second in a few months. Quinn took some heat for his fourth-down decision to close the half, which eventually led to the signal-caller going down. Even if it was understandable in the circumstances.
Still, everyone wants a scapegoat when the franchise player gets hurt. And Quinn is at the forefront.
This is a critical moment for Quinn. He looks visibly dejected and frustrated, and we are only two games into the season. However, he remains resolute, with his focus now turning to rallying around veteran backup Marcus Mariota as he looks to fill the gaping void Daniels left once again.
There is nothing else Quinn can do, honestly.
Keep plowing forward. Keep his players motivated and upbeat in the face of adversity. Keep trying to make the adjustments needed to be more competitive when it counts. Those are the minimum requirements.
But with the Seahawks visiting Northwest Stadium this weekend, that will be easier said than done.
Dan Quinn must rally his Commanders' troops quickly without Jayden Daniels
Quinn hasn't lost hope. It might be fading fast without Daniels, but the coach is still confident fans haven't seen the best from this squad amid such a terrible start.
"We are not pleased with how things have started, but this is not where we are staying. Over the next 15 games, I think they will be pleased to see some of the outcomes that this group is able to produce."
After an 0-2 start and some key injuries, Dan Quinn says don't write these Commanders off just yet
— John Doran (@JohnDoranTV) September 21, 2026
"We are not pleased with how things have started, but this is not where we are staying" pic.twitter.com/dSJS1LFIuH
This confidence is admirable. It's also why Quinn didn't lose the locker room last season.
But talk is cheap.
The players have to execute better. The defense needs to get its act together, and the offense has to somehow cope without Daniels.
And looking at the stern upcoming tests before and after the bye, the Commanders need to step up for their head coach.
Quickly.
We're still early in the season, as Quinn said. There are 15 games left to turn things around, and winning cures all.
That might not happen in Week 3, but the next two games after Seattle are winnable if the Commanders make the needed improvements.
Quinn cannot leave anything to chance. Losing Daniels is crushing, but it can't be the element that defines Washington's season. Coping with injuries isn't new for the Commanders, and even though they were hoping for better luck this time around, they just have to make the best of the options available.
That's the sign of every good head coach. And if Quinn cannot get this club off the canvas, he might have much more than Daniels' injury to worry about.
Current Heat: 7.5 🟠
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