Jayden Daniels’ injury history reaches an unwelcome milestone as Commanders QB exits again

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was forced out of Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys after dislocating his left elbow — the same injury that ended much of his 2025 season — and in doing so reached a sobering benchmark: it marks the fifth time since entering the NFL in 2024 that he has been unable to finish a game.

The latest incident occurred in the final seconds of the first half, with Washington trailing 17-10 and facing first-and-goal at the Dallas 1-yard line. As Daniels dropped back, left guard Chris Paul stepped on his left foot. Attempting to avoid a fall and get a pass into the end zone, Daniels extended his left arm as he hit the turf, and the elbow dislocated. He was seen immediately clutching the arm in pain.

Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed after the game that the elbow was dislocated, though X-rays came back negative, per the report. The franchise and its fan base will recognize the sequence: Daniels dislocated the same elbow last November against the Seattle Seahawks when he used the arm to break a fall during a run, missing five weeks before returning against Minnesota.

A recurring pattern

Daniels’ list of game-ending injuries since his 2024 rookie season now includes:

• October 20, 2024 — A rib injury on a 46-yard run against Carolina on the game’s first snap; he briefly stayed in before sitting out the remainder.
• October 19, 2025 — A hamstring injury on a sack against Dallas, sidelining him for the rest of that game and the following week against Kansas City.
• November 2, 2025 — The left elbow dislocation against Seattle, which cost him five weeks.
• December 7, 2025 — A left arm injury during an interception return against Minnesota that ended his 2025 season.
• September 20, 2026 — Sunday’s elbow dislocation against Dallas.

The timing is especially frustrating for Washington, as Daniels had been playing well and carried the offense through the first half on Sunday. Whether the team or the quarterback considers corrective surgery — either now or after the season — remains an open question.

Beyond the football implications, the injury is notable for the league’s broadcast partners, including Comcast-owned NBC, which aired last November’s elbow injury during Sunday Night Football and carries significant exposure to Commanders marquee matchups through its NFL package.

Source: original release

What to watch

• Updates from the Commanders on Daniels’ recovery timetable and whether the dislocation will require surgery.
• Quarterback depth-chart moves and start designations in the coming weeks if Daniels is sidelined.
• Washington’s upcoming injury reports and any official injured-reserve designation.