What injury did Jayden Daniels suffer against the Cowboys and what happens next?
Washington had a difficult afternoon against Dallas, and the loss of its quarterback completely changed the game for the Commanders.
T he Washington Commanders had a rough afternoon against the Dallas Cowboys. In addition to the 37-20 loss , the team also lost one of its most important players during the game: Jayden Daniels, who had to leave the field after a hard fall near the end zone.
Everything changed near the 1-yard line
The play happened with Washington just a few feet from the end zone. Daniels received the ball but ended up tripping over the feet of offensive lineman Chris Paul .
As he tried to break his fall, the quarterback braced himself with his left arm against the ground. His elbow visibly bent out of position, and Daniels remained on the field in obvious pain.
What injury did Jayden Daniels suffer?
After the game, head coach Dan Quinn confirmed that Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow.
The injury occurs when the bones that make up a joint are forced out of their normal position. In the elbow, a dislocation can also affect the ligaments and other tissues that help keep the joint stable, which is especially important for a quarterback.
Daniels relies on his elbow for one of the most important parts of his position: throwing. That means Washington will need to determine not only the severity of the injury , but also how much time he will need to regain his strength and mobility before returning to the field.
The first update was better than it looked
Although the image of the injury immediately raised concerns, the first tests provided some encouraging news: X-rays did not show a fracture.
For now, that rules out one of the complications that could have made his recovery even more difficult. However, X-rays cannot provide a complete picture of the ligaments and other tissues surrounding the elbow .
That is where the next tests come in. Washington will conduct an MRI on Monday to take a closer look at those structures and determine whether the dislocation caused any additional damage.
What happens next for Jayden Daniels?
The next step will be finding out the results of the additional tests. From there, the medical team will be able to determine the treatment Daniels needs and establish a rehabilitation plan.
In the meantime, Washington will have to prepare to move forward without its quarterback , at least until the team has a clearer picture of the extent of the injury.
