Jayden Daniels suffering a dislocation of the same elbow he injured last season against the Dallas Cowboys was a complete disaster. The Washington Commanders now face a big decision about how to move forward with their franchise player.
Head coach Dan Quinn wasn't ready to talk much about it, which is understandable. He was visibly dejected, as was veteran backup Marcus Mariota. It's a time to reflect and rally around each other as a brotherhood, but the confidence has visibly sapped from this group.
And the Cowboys took advantage without having Daniels to worry about.
Commanders must keep all options on the table after Jayden Daniels' injury
When Daniels was carted off through the tunnel, it seemed as if the Commanders' playoff hopes went with him. Much will depend on what further tests show, but the elbow is clearly unstable enough to keep nothing off the table.
The No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft is a competitive guy. Daniels will want to return as soon as possible, but he'll miss time. And looking at the stretch of games upcoming for the Commanders, their hopes might be dashed by then.
That's a sad thing to say just two games into the season, but it's a fact.
Daniels worked hard to get back last season, but he lasted only one game before aggravating the problem. The Commanders and the signal-caller must learn from this, and if that means ending his season early with surgery, they must consider it.
It would be a bitter pill to swallow, but Daniels has to keep the bigger picture in mind.
Of course, he could return with a brace on his arm, which he would likely have to wear all year. That would be his preference, given his mindset and how much he hates to miss time. But as last season's game against the Minnesota Vikings showed, all it takes is one hard fall for things to get even more complicated.
Commanders need Jayden Daniels for the future more than the present
Either way, this is the last thing anyone wanted.
Daniels was on a mission to remind the NFL who he is this season. His steely determination throughout the offseason was something everyone got behind. Hopes were high, but they have now vanished just as quickly.
Hopefully, Daniels gets some good news. But every possible precaution must be taken to ensure this doesn't become a lingering issue during his career.
That has much graver consequences attached.
Surgery would help, but it could happen again. Wearing a brace papers over the cracks but not much else. Daniels wants to play, so perhaps putting protection on the arm before offseason surgery is the path.
But there's no telling for sure right now.
This is a complete disaster for the Commanders. That's not up for debate.
Daniels was playing so well in Dallas, and now a frustrating spell on the sidelines awaits. Inevitably, the injury-prone tag has come up again, but these are freak accidents and nothing more.
The Commanders still believe that Daniels can take them where they want to go. One only has to look at the reactions of coaches and teammates to see that. But this is also why thinking about the future is just as important as the present.
And the time for half-measures is over.
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