Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels left the Week 14 game against the Minnesota Vikings after landing hard on his previously injured left elbow. This marked his first game back from a dislocation suffered in Week 9 against the Seattle Seahawks. Daniels was ruled questionable to return after the incident.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels exited the team's Week 14 matchup at the Minnesota Vikings following a hard landing on his left elbow. The injury occurred after Daniels threw an interception to Vikings edge defender Andrew Van Ginkel and attempted to chase him down. As Daniels pursued, Vikings safety Isaiah Rodgers legally shoved him to the ground, causing him to fall awkwardly on the elbow he had dislocated in Week 9 against the Seattle Seahawks.
Daniels, visibly in pain, walked off the field and entered the medical tent. He emerged with a towel over his head and without the arm sleeve he had been wearing on the elbow. Marcus Mariota replaced him for the ensuing drive, which also ended in an interception. The Commanders listed Daniels as questionable to return.
This season has been marred by injuries for Daniels. He sprained his knee in a Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers, missing the next two games. Upon returning, he led Washington to a Week 5 win over the Los Angeles Chargers but lost to the Chicago Bears in Week 6. In Week 7, a hamstring strain against the Dallas Cowboys sidelined him for one game. He returned in Week 9, only to suffer the elbow dislocation.
Despite the team's 3-9 record entering Week 14, head coach Dan Quinn emphasized the importance of Daniels gaining reps. 'I think it's important as Jayden's ... learning to play this position at the highest level competitively, also doing it safely, and those are reps, you know, that you develop as well,' Quinn said on Nov. 24. 'It's a skill, just like throwing and processing. And so, all those things are important.' Daniels had limited practices for nearly a week and a half before becoming a full participant Thursday and Friday.
In related news from the game, tight end Zach Ertz is feared to have suffered an ACL injury to his knee, according to Quinn.