Jayden Daniels Avoids Surgery, Expected Back After Bye Week

The Washington Commanders got some good news about quarterback Jayden Daniels. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed that Daniels does not have ligament damage in his right elbow. That means he won’t need surgery, and the team does not plan to put him on injured reserve.

Jayden Daniels dislocated his elbow during last Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks. The injury happened in the fourth quarter when Washington was already trailing 38-7. Daniels was trying to escape defenders when he went down, and the play immediately raised concerns because it was his throwing arm.

After the MRI results came back, doctors found that the injury was painful but not serious enough to cause long-term damage. Because of that, it is possible Daniels could return after Washington’s bye week in Week 12. The Commanders are not planning to check him for next week’s game, which means the team is looking at the Week 12 primetime matchup against the Denver Broncos on November 30 as a possible return date.

“I hope to give you guys an update after the bye week about where he is and what comes next,” Quinn said on Friday.

This Sunday, when the Commanders (3-6) host the Detroit Lions (5-3), Daniels will miss his fourth start of the season. Veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota will take over again. Mariota has started three games so far this year and has completed 56 of 88 passes for 639 yards, with four touchdowns and four interceptions.

Earlier this week, Quinn said Jayden Daniels was still very sore and would need some time to recover. After the Seahawks game, Quinn said he was upset by the injury but admitted he did not think about pulling Daniels from the game, even though the score was already lopsided. The next day, Quinn said he regretted that decision.

The Commanders have now lost four straight games, including three losses by more than 20 points. The team hopes that getting Jayden Daniels back healthy will help them turn the season around in the second half. For now, the focus is on letting him heal and avoiding further injury.

Also Read: Kirk Ferentz Worried About Coaching Future for His Sons