Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow during a 37-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys on September 20, 2026. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed X-rays showed no fracture, leaving veteran Marcus Mariota to step in as the team prepares to face the Seattle Seahawks.
The Washington Commanders lost more than just a game on Sunday evening at AT&T Stadium. Facing the Dallas Cowboys with just three seconds remaining in the second quarter and sitting one yard away from the end zone, head coach Dan Quinn opted to run a play rather than kick a field goal while trailing 17-10. Left guard Chris Paul stepped on Jayden Daniels‘ foot as the quarterback took the snap under center, causing him to stumble and reach out with his left hand to brace his fall.
Daniels’ left arm bent backward as Cowboys defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard approached him. Although Daniels managed to release an incomplete pass, he immediately grabbed his arm in visible pain. Medical staff rushed onto the field, placed his arm in an air cast, and carted him to the locker room with a towel over his head. The Commanders officially ruled him out for the remainder of the contest after halftime, sliding to an 0-2 record on the young season as Dallas secured a 37-20 victory.
Dan Quinn Confirms Left Elbow Dislocation and Further Imaging
Speaking to reporters after the final whistle, Quinn provided an immediate update on his star quarterback’s status. X-rays taken at the stadium showed no fracture, but the joint dislocation will require additional evaluation back in Washington.
“We’ll start with what we know. With Jayden, he did injure his left elbow. It was a dislocation. X-Rays showed no fracture. He’ll travel back with the team, more imaging tomorrow… Man, are we bummed for him… and we will rally so hard around Marcus [Mariota].”
Dan Quinn, Head Coach, Washington Commanders
Quinn defended the aggressive play-call that preceded the injury, stating that he felt no regret about going for a touchdown at the 1-yard line against a high-powered Dallas offense. Quinn noted that while the outcome was unfortunate, he does not believe in playing the “what if” game when injuries occur.
Familiar Injury Parallels for the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year
The setback carries a resemblance to the physical hardships Daniels experienced during a difficult second professional season. During the 2025 campaign, Daniels missed a total of 10 games, notably suffering a dislocated non-throwing left elbow during a Week 9 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. He returned after a four-week absence but reinjured the same elbow while attempting a tackle following an interception in Week 14 against the Minnesota Vikings, forcing him to miss the remainder of the year.
Before leaving the field against Dallas, Daniels had completed 11 of 17 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown while rushing for an additional 69 yards. Before the injury struck, the quarterback was playing aggressively to jumpstart Washington’s offense following a season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Marcus Mariota and the Road Ahead Against the Seattle Seahawks
With Daniels facing another potential absence pending Monday’s imaging results, the Commanders turn the offense over to veteran backup Marcus Mariota. Quinn expressed complete confidence in the locker room’s ability to adjust to the sudden change under center.
Mariota finished out the remainder of Sunday’s loss and is expected to lead the team into its upcoming home opener. However, the schedule offers no relief for Washington, which must host the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks next week while sorting through its mounting offensive injuries.