Commanders' Daniels leaves Cowboys game with elbow issue
Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels was carted off the field after injuring his left elbow late in the first half against Dallas. He was ruled out for the remainder of the game. Daniels previously dislocated the same elbow in 2025 and missed time.
The injury occurred on a third-and-goal play from the Dallas five-yard line, with Washington trailing 17-10 and no timeouts remaining. Daniels tripped over his own linemen, using his left arm to brace his fall, and immediately struggled to rise. He was eventually carted off with an aircast, and the team confirmed he would not return. Marcus Mariota took over to start the second half.
This is the same left elbow Daniels dislocated in Week 9 of the 2025 season. He missed five weeks, returned in Week 14, but aggravated the injury again and was shut down for the remainder of that campaign. The recurrence raises serious questions about his long-term durability, given the repeated trauma to the same joint.
The recurrence of a serious elbow injury to a franchise quarterback could have ripple effects across the NFL landscape. Washington's playoff hopes may hinge on Mariota's performance, while fantasy football managers and sports bettors face immediate adjustments. More broadly, it could reignite conversations about player safety and the risks of playing through prior joint injuries, potentially influencing how teams manage young quarterbacks' workloads and rehabilitation protocols.