Jayden Daniels was on a heater in the first half against the Dallas Cowboys before suffering a gruesome elbow injury. Grave concerns followed, and the body language of everyone associated with the Washington Commanders after the game told fans everything they needed to know.
Head coach Dan Quinn was visibly dejected after the loss. But the result was not the biggest concern.
It was Daniels, and the news wasn't especially promising.
Commanders confirm dislocated elbow for Jayden Daniels, which is a disaster
Quinn revealed post-game that Daniels had dislocated his left elbow again. There was no fracture, and he will travel back with the team. More imaging will be done Monday, which will tell the Commanders more about the best path forward.
Just the worst news at the worst time. And where the Commanders go from here is anyone's guess.
The Commanders won't go very far without Daniels this season. Backup option Marcus Mariota is serviceable, but he's aging and inconsistent. The veteran signal-caller also gave off bad vibes about his teammate's outlook after the contest, which was an outpouring of emotion and support for someone he's become close with over the last three years.
Daniels' elbow is clearly unstable. He avoided surgery last year, despite aggravating it when he returned to the lineup against the Minnesota Vikings. That may be unavoidable now, especially if they don't want the same to happen again down the line.
That might rule Daniels out for the entire season. But if it means he can have a productive prime and take the Commanders where they want to go, it's a risk worth taking.
It's not ideal. In fact, it's a complete disaster. But it's important to keep the bigger picture in mind.
Sometimes, no words are needed. Pictures speak a thousand words, and FOX analyst Tom Brady only needed one when he saw the replay of Daniels' injury for the first time.
The dejection couldn't be ignored. And after everything Daniels went through last season, he deserved better.
But the NFL is a cold, cruel business.
The Commanders will wait for further developments before taking decisive action. Daniels will have to get back up and focus on his recovery. That's all he can do, but Washington's chances of bouncing back this season have taken a significant hit.
And the ripple effects could last a while.
This is especially disappointing given how well Daniels was playing. He was in complete control, dominating Dallas' defense with a blend of passing prowess and controlled rushing ability. Now, another extended spell on the sideline awaits, and he might even be done for the entire campaign.
And with that, Washington's chances go down.
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