Jayden Daniels will spend the next two days consulting with specialists about the best course of action for his dislocated elbow. The Washington Commanders are giving him all the time he needs, gathering all the relevant information and expert opinions before deciding on the next step.
But this already looks like a franchise-altering crossroads for the quarterback and head coach Dan Quinn.
Finding the right balance is key here.
Commanders might have no right answers for Jayden Daniels' dislocated elbow
Daniels wants to play, but this is also the second time it's happened in a matter of months. Something is clearly not right, and it is not as strong as it needs to be right now. He doesn't want surgery, but it shouldn't be up to him.
Quinn is in a tricky spot. He needs to alleviate pressure from his shoulders, and he won't be able to do that without Daniels. Veteran backup Marcus Mariota is solid, but it's just not the same.
A shaky outlook shouldn't stop Quinn from keeping the bigger picture in mind. He will lean heavily on the medical advice. He is a players' coach, so Daniels' input will also be invaluable.
But it shouldn't be the tipping point, and Quinn trying to save his own job shouldn't factor into it either.
Of course, there are several unknowns. Daniels got away without fracturing the elbow again, which is a positive. But seeing specialists after a second dislocation means everything is still up in the air.
And calmer heads must prevail.
Commanders need Jayden Daniels, but not at the expense of his long-term health
The Commanders won't get very far without Daniels. They proved that last season, and even though general manager Adam Peters strengthened the roster during the offseason, missing their franchise player is a body blow.
Daniels could wear an elbow brace and hope for the best. He could go on short-term injured reserve, give it time to heal, and reassess a little down the line. He could even be forced into surgery, which would likely rule him out for the entire campaign.
Those are the viable options. But at least this is not his throwing arm.
That makes it a little easier, but Daniels' mobility would still be restricted. This could potentially be schemed around, and the player will no doubt push hard to feature at the earliest possible opportunity.
But in a few weeks, the Commanders might also be in a hole they cannot get out of.
It would be surprising if the Commanders weren't 0-3 before their international game against the Indianapolis Colts. At best, they will be 2-4 at the bye, but they could just as easily be 1-5 or even 0-6.
And with the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams up after their extended rest in Week 7, the Commanders may have a monumental problem brewing.
Losing Daniels is a devastating setback. He was finding his groove against the Dallas Cowboys before it was cruelly taken away. But this is a defining moment, and the decisions made should be based on nothing but the player and the team's best long-term interests.
Everyone has an opinion. Some think Daniels should tough it out, while others argue that fully resolving this is the best option. The truth probably lies somewhere in the middle, but it doesn't make the choice any easier.
And they must get everything right from here on.
Add us as a preferred source on Google