Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was taken off the field during halftime in Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys. He appeared to injure his left elbow on the final play of the first half. Daniels tried to regain his balance after tripping, using his left arm for support, which resulted in a hyperextension.
This is a significant setback for Daniels, as he suffered a similar injury in 2025 against the Seattle Seahawks. OutKick medical expert Dr. David Chao, an experienced sports physician, assessed the injury through video. Dr. Chao suggested that the video indicated a clear left elbow dislocation. According to him, “Joint comes out easier the second time original ligament tear heals ‘looser.'”
At halftime, Daniels was escorted to the locker room with a towel over his head. His replacement for the remainder of the game was backup quarterback Marcus Mariota. The potential severity of the injury puts the Washington Commanders’ season at risk in only the second week.
This injury follows a similar incident last season when Daniels dislocated his left elbow during Washington’s Week 9 game against Seattle. An MRI at that time showed no fracture or ligament damage, sparing him from surgery. However, after returning in Week 14, he aggravated the elbow and was eventually shut down for the season to focus on recovery.
Daniels’ current injury casts doubt on his ability to contribute this season, potentially affecting the team’s overall performance.