The Washington Commanders suffered a 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9, marred by multiple injuries including a dislocated elbow to quarterback Jayden Daniels. Coach Dan Quinn took responsibility for keeping Daniels in the game during the lopsided defeat. The team also lost wide receiver Luke McCaffrey to a broken collarbone and fears cornerback Marshon Lattimore tore his ACL.
The Seattle Seahawks dominated the Washington Commanders from start to finish on Sunday night at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, securing a 38-14 victory in Week 9. The game turned disastrous for Washington when star quarterback Jayden Daniels, the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year, dislocated his left elbow late in the fourth quarter. With less than eight minutes remaining and the Seahawks leading 38-7, Daniels scrambled on second-and-goal at the 7:39 mark and was tackled by linebacker Drake Thomas. As he fell, Daniels used his non-throwing arm to brace himself, resulting in the injury.
Coach Dan Quinn addressed the decision to leave Daniels in the blowout, admitting fault in a Monday press conference. "I know many of you have been asking about the thought process of Jayden being in the game in that situation. I get that," Quinn said. "I've been thinking about it honestly nonstop too, and for me the answer is, man, I missed it." Quinn intended the drive to be Daniels' last, with vanilla play-calling to avoid risks, but acknowledged the quarterback's scrambling ability as a factor. Initial X-rays showed no fractures, and Daniels is scheduled for an MRI this week. While placement on injured reserve is possible, there is hope he avoids missing the rest of the season.
The injuries compounded Washington's woes. Wide receiver and kick returner Luke McCaffrey suffered a broken collarbone, and starting cornerback Marshon Lattimore is feared to have torn his ACL, pending Monday's MRI. Lattimore had recorded 27 tackles, seven passes defensed, and one interception in nine games this season. Daniels finished 16 of 22 for 153 yards, one interception, 10 carries for 51 yards, and a touchdown before exiting. This marks another setback for Daniels, who missed games earlier due to an ankle injury in Week 2 against the Packers and a hamstring issue before Week 8 versus the Cowboys.
With Daniels sidelined, veteran Marcus Mariota will start, having gone 1-2 in three prior starts with four touchdowns and three interceptions. The 3-6 Commanders, third in the NFC East, face the 5-3 Detroit Lions next. Washington's pass defense ranks fourth-worst in the NFL, allowing 253.6 yards per game, and permitted seven passing touchdowns over a recent four-quarter span.