ARLINGTON, Texas -- Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow in Sunday's 37-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, but coach Dan Quinn said X-rays showed no fracture. Daniels will undergo more imaging tests Monday.
Quinn said he anticipates Daniels returning this season, saying "I haven't had any reason to think otherwise."
Daniels' feet appeared to get stepped on by left guard Chris Paul as the quarterback took the snap on a third-and-goal from the 1-yard line on the final play of the first half. Daniels started to fall down and tried to brace himself with his left hand, and his elbow bent back.
He was looked at by medical personnel and surrounded by several teammates as well as coaches, including Quinn. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota was the first player to go over to Daniels. Center Nick Allegretti said he had quickly waved for trainers to come onto the field.
As he was carted off, Daniels sat up with a towel over his head.
"It took the air out of us a little bit," receiver Terry McLaurin said in a subdued locker room. "Just trying to score before half, and he went down. We know we had to get back in the locker room to make our adjustments, but no one wanted to leave the field. That's our brother."
Quinn said he did not regret the call to go for it rather than attempt a field goal in that situation. He said they wanted to be aggressive, knowing the offensive firepower Dallas possessed. But, for Daniels' teammates, their focus wasn't on a playcall but rather the injury.
"I tried to control my emotions," said running back Rachaad White, a longtime friend of Daniels', "but I had tears coming down. I feel for him."
Mariota replaced Daniels and will start until he is able to return.
"Early in my career you try to suppress those feelings and emotions," Mariota said. "But I found that you just have to kind of be vulnerable and just talk about how you feel. And in that moment, it's just like my first inkling is just thinking about the guy. You worry, you think about his mental, you think about what he's gone through."
Daniels emerged from the locker room after the game, his left arm in a sling, and walked to an area where he had family and friends waiting. He hugged a few of them before leaving. Teammates said Daniels spoke to some of them after the game, letting them know he's OK.
Daniels dislocated his left elbow last season in Week 9 against Seattle. He returned four weeks later but reinjured the elbow attempting to make a tackle after an interception in Week 14 at Minnesota. He did not play the rest of the season.
On Sunday, Daniels cut the Commanders' 17-3 deficit by throwing a touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs and then led Washington on the drive to end the first half.
Daniels completed 11 of 17 passes for 96 yards but hurt the Cowboys on the ground as well, resembling the player who was named the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2024. Daniels rushed seven times for 69 yards Sunday.
Mariota completed 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown.
"We have a lot of faith in Marcus," McLaurin said. "We'll keep supporting [Daniels], he'll be around the building. It's only Week 2; we know he'll be back. But at the same time, we have to raise our level of play so Marcus feels our support."
Mariota said teammates can't try to do too much.
"Nobody needs to be Superman," he said. "Nobody needs to do anything crazy."