The Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has admitted he bears some the blame for a major ailment to the squad’s signal-caller, Jayden Daniels.
Details of the Harm and Context
Daniels, who had among the best rookie campaigns of all time the previous year, sustained a dislocated left elbow in Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Although Daniels throws with his right arm, the injury has left his season uncertain. The injury was significant enough that the TV coverage did not show replays and multiple athletes turned away as he was attended to by medical staff.
Criticism and Leader’s Response
Coach Quinn faced criticism as many believed Daniels should not have been on the playing surface in the first place. The injury occurred in the fourth quarter with the Washington trailing 38-7, rendering a recovery improbable. It is typical in such circumstances for clubs to insert their reserve QB to avoid harm to their starter.
“I get that. I’ve been thinking about it constantly, too, and, man, I missed it,” Quinn remarked of his choice to keep Jayden in the game. “This is 100% on me.”
Fallout and Team Outlook
Mariota will be the team’s primary QB going forward, but he will lead a roster in turmoil. Following reaching the conference title game last season behind the rookie’s excellence, the team have struggled this season. They also lost cornerback Marshon Lattimore (ACL tear) and pass-catcher Luke McCaffrey (broken collarbone) on Sunday, and have a number of other key players on the injury list. The Commanders are three wins and six losses on the season, and it would take a massive reversal for the club to reach the playoffs.
