Jayden Daniels is among the top quarterbacks that have already missed time this season, but the Washington Commanders third-year QB could be back in three weeks — or potentially sooner — from the dislocated left elbow he suffered last week, according to NFL Network.
The injury, which occurred against the Dallas Cowboys when Daniels braced a fall with his left arm, is the same one that sidelined him last season.
The Commanders, though, did not place Daniels on IR and have said he doesn’t need surgery. If he’d been placed on IR, he would have had to miss at least four games.
The 25-year-old was limited to just seven games last season and whenever he does return this year, he will wear a brace on the elbow, as he did a year ago- when he was out four weeks.
But he also reinjured his elbow in his first game back last year and was shut down for the remainder of the season.
Marcus Mariota will start in Daniels’ place on Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. Mariota, also a second-overall pick, filled in for Daniels in eight games last year.
Daniels played in all 17 games in his rookie year, when Washington went 12-5 and Daniels was named Offensive Rookie of the Year.
He has yet to regain that form, in part due to an inability to stay healthy.
The second-overall pick out of LSU in 2024, Daniels had to be carted off the field last week against the Cowboys.
He didn’t suffer a fracture on the play, but Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady — broadcasting the game for Fox — had a viral reaction when he saw the severity of the injury.
The Commanders are off to an 0-2 start, with losses to divisional foes the Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.
