Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was taken off the field during halftime in Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. He injured his left elbow on the last play of the first half. As he tried regaining his balance after tripping, he used his left arm for support and appeared to hyperextend his elbow.
The injury happened when the elbow bent in an unnatural way. Daniels had a similar injury in 2025 against the Seattle Seahawks, raising concerns about the severity of this new injury.
Dr. David Chao, who formerly served as the head physician for the San Diego Chargers and now operates the Sports Injury Central website, analyzed the footage of Daniels’ injury. He commented on X, referring to the clear dislocation of Daniels’ left elbow. He noted that a second dislocation can occur more easily due to earlier ligament tear healing less tightly.
Despite injuring his arm, Daniels was carted off, using a towel to cover his head presumably to hide his expression from onlookers. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota has taken over for the rest of the game. If the injury is as serious as it seems, the Commanders’ season could face significant challenges early.
Previously, Daniels dislocated his left elbow in the Week 9 loss against Seattle in 2025. An MRI revealed no fractures or significant ligament damage, allowing him to avoid surgery. He returned in Week 14 but aggravated the injury, leading to his being unavailable for three more weeks as Washington prioritized his recovery.
Now, Daniels’ recovery has once again been disrupted, potentially impacting his ability to play in upcoming games.