Washington, D.C. – In a weekly interview on 106.7 The Fan, Commanders general manager Adam Peters confirmed that neither elbow surgery nor a placement on injured reserve (IR) is being contemplated for quarterback Jayden Daniels. The 25‑year‑old suffered a second dislocation of his left elbow during the team’s 37‑20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys last weekend.
Injury details and immediate outlook
Daniels’ injury occurred on the final play of the first half when he was stepped on by left guard Chris Paul and tripped while attempting to backpedal. He planted his non‑throwing arm on the turf, causing the elbow to buckle and dislocate. The injury mirrors a previous dislocation the quarterback endured in a 38‑14 loss to Seattle in Week 9 of the 2025 season.
After that earlier setback, Daniels missed three games, returned with a protective brace in Week 14, and then aggravated the injury, forcing him to miss the remainder of the 2025 campaign. This time, Peters emphasized that the team is focusing on non‑surgical treatment and will decide the best path forward after further evaluation.
Team’s short‑term plan
With Daniels unavailable for the upcoming home opener against the Seattle Seahawks, veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota will start for the Commanders, who sit 0‑2 on the season. Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis, a seventh‑round pick from Rutgers, will serve as Mariota’s backup.
Coach Dan Quinn noted that Daniels has worked hard in the offseason to add “more armor,” becoming bigger and stronger, which should aid his recovery. “There’s a re‑injury risk for all things, whether it’s soft tissue or otherwise, but he really put on more armor this year and worked hard during the offseason for that,” Quinn said.
Daniels’ career snapshot
Since being drafted, Daniels has compiled a 65.9% completion rate for 5,090 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and 12 interceptions over 26 career starts, posting a 14‑12 record. He has also contributed 1,269 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns, underscoring his dual‑threat capability.
While the team hopes to have Daniels back on the field soon, Peters stressed that the decision will be made with Daniels’ long‑term health in mind. “It’s just a matter of how we’re going to get him back on the field and that’s still to be determined,” he said.
What’s next for Washington
The Commanders will look to rebound from their early‑season struggles with a veteran at the helm this weekend. Fans can tune in to the home opener on Sunday, when the Seahawks, currently 2‑0, will test Washington’s defense and the depth of its quarterback room.
As the season progresses, the health of Jayden Daniels will remain a focal point for the organization and its supporters, who are eager to see the former 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year return to his full potential.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
