Washington QB Jayden Daniels Suffers Elbow Injury Against Cowboys

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels experienced a setback during Sunday’s game against the Dallas Cowboys as he was carted off the field at halftime. The injury occurred after he appeared to hyperextend his left elbow on the final play of the first half. Subsequent attempts to regain his balance saw Daniels use his left arm for support, leading to the injury.

Daniels’ elbow bent in an unnatural way, indicative of a dislocation. This is troubling since Daniels suffered a similar injury in 2025 while playing against the Seattle Seahawks. If the injury is severe, it could potentially define the season for both Daniels and the Commanders.

Medical insights from Dr. David Chao, a former head physician for the San Diego Chargers and contributor to the Sports Injury Central website, suggest that the video analysis points to a clear dislocation of the left elbow. According to Dr. Chao, a previous ligament tear could cause the joint to dislocate more easily during subsequent injuries due to looser healed tissue.

Although the injury affected Daniels’ arm, he was transported to the locker room with a towel over his head, concealing his reaction. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota has replaced him for the remainder of the game.

Jayden Daniels previously dislocated his left elbow while scrambling in Week 9 against Seattle in 2025. An MRI revealed no fracture or ligament damage, allowing him to avoid surgery and stay off injured reserve. Daniels returned in Week 14 but aggravated the elbow, leading to his withdrawal from the subsequent game. He sat out the final three weeks as the Commanders focused on his recovery for 2026.

The recent injury poses a challenge to Daniels’ recovery process. Follow NFL coverage from Armando Salguero on X at @ARMANDOSALGUERO.