Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has admitted he shares a portion of the blame for a major ailment to the squad’s quarterback, Daniels.
Details of the Injury and Situation
Jayden Daniels, who had among the best first-year performances in history the previous year, sustained a displaced left elbow in the Sunday defeat to the Seattle Seahawks. Even though the quarterback passes with his dominant arm, the injury has left his season in doubt. The condition was serious enough that the television broadcast did not show replays and multiple players looked away as Daniels was attended to by medical staff.
Backlash and Leader’s Response
Coach Quinn came under criticism as many felt Daniels ought not to have been on the playing surface to begin with. The injury happened in the final period with the Commanders trailing 38-7, making a comeback improbable. It is common in such situations for teams to insert their reserve QB to prevent injuries to their first-string player.
“I get that. I’ve been reflecting about it constantly, too, and, man, I missed it,” Quinn remarked of his decision to keep Daniels in the game. “That is 100% my fault.”
Aftermath and Squad Outlook
Marcus Mariota will be the Commanders’ primary QB from now on, but he will guide a roster in disarray. After reaching the NFC championship game the prior year thanks to the rookie’s brilliance, the franchise have struggled this season. They also saw injuries to defensive back Marshon Lattimore (torn ACL) and pass-catcher McCaffrey (collarbone fracture) on game day, and have a host of other starters on injured reserve. The Washington squad are 3-6 so far, and it would require a massive turnaround for the club to reach the postseason.
