The Washington Commanders were due for some good news on the injury front. Jayden Daniels' dislocated elbow didn't look good at the time. But reports, mercifully, suggest it might not be as bad as initially feared.
According to Ian Rapoport from the NFL Network, Daniels' MRI revealed no ligament damage. He will not require surgery, and the Commanders are not going to place their franchise player on injured reserve at this time. While the No. 2 overall selection in the 2024 NFL Draft is out indefinitely, all hope is not lost regarding a return later in the campaign.
That provides some solace amid the doom and gloom. However, it raises another question.
Is it even worth bringing Daniels back at all if the Commanders cannot turn things around without him?
Commanders remain in a precarious spot with Jayden Daniels' status
One of the biggest reasons why Daniels got into this mess is that head coach Dan Quinn was chasing a lost cause. He kept his star signal-caller on the field when the result on Sunday Night Football against the Seattle Seahawks was already decided. Although he later admitted that it was an oversight, that didn't stop the fierce criticism from arriving.
Quinn's been more despondent than usual in front of the media this week. He knows it was a significant lapse in judgment, and the Commanders are going to suffer. But if their losing run continues, he cannot make the same mistake in pursuit of salvaging some semblance of respectability from a lost campaign.
The Commanders' chances of making the playoffs are all but gone right now. They are dealing with several long-term absences involving key personnel, including Daniels. If they cannot get the trajectory pointing up, risking the LSU product in a couple of meaningless games down the stretch wouldn't be prudent.
Those in the building won't be thinking that way, but it's already prevalent across the media and the fan base. And, of course, this is likely determined by how quickly he can get the all-clear to participate.
Young players need to play, of course. Daniels could use some positive momentum before heading into the offseason. His pass-catchers might look different in 2026, but there is a lot to be said for building rhythm.
But if it takes a little longer, and the Commanders' free-fall goes on without him, an argument can be made for holding him out, even if that wouldn't sit well with Daniels.
Because if Quinn throws him out there and another injury occurs, that comes with disastrous ramifications.