Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has admitted he bears a portion of the fault for a major injury to the squad’s quarterback, Daniels.
Details of the Injury and Situation
Jayden Daniels, who had among the best first-year performances in history last season, sustained a dislocated left elbow in Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Even though Daniels passes with his right arm, the issue has placed his season uncertain. The injury was significant enough that the TV coverage avoided showing repeats and multiple athletes looked away as he was treated by medical staff.
Backlash and Coach’s Reaction
Quinn came under scrutiny as many believed the rookie ought not to have been on the playing surface in the first place. The injury occurred in the final period with the Washington behind 38-7, rendering a recovery unlikely. It is typical in such situations for teams to put in their backup quarterback to prevent injuries to their first-string player.
“I get that. I’ve been reflecting about it nonstop, too, and, wow, I erred,” he remarked of his decision to leave Jayden in the game. “That is 100% on me.”
Fallout and Squad Prospects
Marcus Mariota will be the team’s primary QB going forward, but he will lead a roster in disarray. After reaching the conference title game the prior year behind the rookie’s excellence, the team have faced difficulties this season. They also saw injuries to defensive back Lattimore (torn ACL) and wide receiver McCaffrey (broken collarbone) on game day, and have a host of other key players on injured reserve. The Commanders are 3-6 on the season, and it would require a massive reversal for the team to make the postseason.
