The Washington Commanders opened their 2026 NFL season on the road at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, hoping to snap a two‑game losing streak. The Cowboys prevailed 37‑20, but the result was eclipsed by a serious injury to the Commanders’ starting quarterback, Jayden Daniels.
Injury Details
Daniels suffered a dislocation of his left elbow with three seconds left in the first half, just as Washington was poised at the Dallas one‑yard line. After the snap, left guard Chris Paul stepped on Daniels’ foot, causing him to lose balance. As he tried to brace himself with his left arm, the elbow twisted awkwardly and hit the ground. Despite the pain, Daniels attempted to finish the play, trying to throw as Cowboys defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard closed in.
He remained on the field briefly while medical staff attended to him, then was carted off with his arm in a cast and a towel over his head. The Commanders later confirmed he would not return to the game. X‑rays showed no fracture, but further testing was scheduled for Monday to assess the injury’s severity.
Impact on the Game
Washington entered the drive with a chance to tie the game at 17‑17 before the break, but two incomplete red‑zone passes ended the half, leading to the injury‑marred snap. The loss of Daniels limited the Commanders’ offensive options in the second half.
Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota stepped in after halftime, completing 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards and connecting with wide receiver Stefon Diggs for a touchdown that cut the Cowboys’ lead to 30‑20 with under five minutes left. Diggs’ score marked his second of the afternoon and the third in Washington’s first two games of the season.
Coach and Team Reaction
Head coach Dan Quinn expressed frustration over the injury but defended the play call, saying, “Looking back on it, at the 1‑yard line, we need touchdowns, and I don’t regret the call. Obviously, anytime someone gets injured, you play the ‘what if’ game. I hate that it happened… the outcome sucks, but it wasn’t a ‘what if’ or wish I had done something differently.”
Quarterback Marcus Mariota praised Daniels’ character, noting the locker‑room support system: “It sucks. You can’t really put it into words. You watched that kid battle through all he’d been through last year. It’s very, very unfortunate, but this is an incredible locker room and Daniels has an incredible support system.”
Daniels’ Injury History
This is the second season Daniels has suffered a left‑elbow dislocation. In 2025 he missed ten games after a similar injury in week nine against the Seattle Seahawks, returned briefly, then re‑injured the same elbow against the Minnesota Vikings in week fourteen, ending his campaign and landing him on the injured reserve list.
Looking Ahead
The Commanders will host the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks in week three at Northwest Stadium, their first home game of the season. The team hopes to rally around the “no flinch” mentality described by Mariota: “The players believe in each other, believe in what we’re doing, believe in Coach Quinn, and we’ll get this ship going in the right direction.”
Washington’s offseason offensive revamp aimed to reduce hits on Daniels, yet the opening two weeks have shown growing pains. The injury underscores the challenges the franchise faces as it seeks to improve consistency and protect its young quarterback.
Original reporting: The Washington Informer — read the source article.
