Daniels Injury Timeline Unclear; Mariota to Start vs. Seahawks — SkimNews
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- Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow on the final play of the first half in Sunday's 37-20 loss to the Cowboys; X-rays showed no structural damage, and coach Dan Quinn said the QB will visit specialists Tuesday and Wednesday to determine a return timeline.
- Marcus Mariota will start Sunday's home opener against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, with rookie Athan Kaliakmanis serving as the No. 3 quarterback; Quinn said no veteran backup signing has been discussed yet but could follow the specialists' findings.
- The injury occurred when left guard Chris Paul accidentally stepped on Daniels' left foot as the QB backed away from the snap, causing him to stumble and his elbow to bend inward; medical personnel reset the elbow on the field.
- Daniels has now exited four of his last five games because of injuries — twice for a dislocated left elbow — and missed 10 games overall last season due to a sprained knee, a hamstring injury, and other setbacks.
- Before exiting Sunday, Daniels completed 11 of 17 passes for 96 yards and rushed seven times for 69 yards, a stat line that echoed his 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year form.
- The Commanders have been hit by a wave of injuries since the start of last season — left tackle Laremy Tunsil suffered a torn triceps (possibly season-ending), right guard Sam Cosmi entered concussion protocol Sunday, and safety Nick Cross stayed overnight in a Dallas hospital with an internal injury before being released.
Why it matters: The Commanders host the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks with a backup quarterback, a rookie third-stringer, and no clear timeline on their franchise player's return. The broader injury toll — Tunsil potentially lost for the season, Cosmi in concussion protocol, Cross hospitalized overnight — leaves Washington dangerously thin at multiple positions going into a Week 3 game that could shape their early-season trajectory.
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