Washington Commanders leader Coach Quinn has admitted he bears a portion of the fault for a major ailment to the squad’s signal-caller, Jayden Daniels.
Details of the Injury and Context
Jayden Daniels, who enjoyed among the best first-year performances of all time the previous year, suffered a dislocated left elbow in the Sunday loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Although Daniels passes with his dominant arm, the injury has placed his campaign in doubt. The condition was serious enough that the television broadcast did not show repeats and several players turned away as Daniels was attended to by medical staff.
Backlash and Coach’s Response
Coach Quinn faced scrutiny as numerous felt Daniels should not have been on the field to begin with. The injury occurred in the fourth quarter with the Washington behind 38-7, rendering a comeback unlikely. It is typical in such circumstances for teams to put in their backup quarterback to prevent injuries to their starter.
“I get that. I’ve been thinking about it nonstop, too, and, man, I erred,” he said of his decision to leave Daniels in the game. “That is 100% on me.”
Aftermath and Team Outlook
Mariota will be the team’s primary QB going forward, but he will guide a roster in disarray. After reaching the NFC championship game last season thanks to Daniels’s excellence, the franchise have struggled this season. They also lost cornerback Lattimore (ACL tear) and wide receiver McCaffrey (broken collarbone) on Sunday, and have a number of other starters on the injury list. The Commanders are three wins and six losses so far, and it would require a massive reversal for the club to reach the playoffs.
