Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has admitted he shares some the fault for a serious injury to the squad’s quarterback, Jayden Daniels.
Details of the Injury and Context
Jayden Daniels, who had among the best first-year performances in history last season, suffered a dislocated left elbow in the Sunday defeat to the Seahawks. Although Daniels passes with his right arm, the issue has left his campaign uncertain. The injury was serious enough that the television broadcast avoided showing replays and several athletes turned away as he was treated by medical staff.
Criticism and Leader’s Reaction
Coach Quinn faced scrutiny as many believed Daniels ought not to have been on the playing surface to begin with. The incident happened in the fourth quarter with the Washington trailing 38-7, rendering a comeback unlikely. It is common in these situations for teams to insert their backup quarterback to avoid harm to their starter.
“I get that. I’ve been thinking about it nonstop, too, and, man, I erred,” Quinn said of his choice to keep Jayden in the game. “That is 100% on me.”
Fallout and Team Prospects
Marcus Mariota will be the team’s starting quarterback going forward, but he will guide a roster in disarray. Following making the NFC championship game last season thanks to Daniels’s brilliance, the team have struggled currently. They also saw injuries to cornerback Lattimore (torn ACL) and pass-catcher McCaffrey (broken collarbone) on Sunday, and have a number of other starters on injured reserve. The Washington squad are three wins and six losses on the season, and it would take a massive reversal for the team to make the postseason.
