The Washington Commanders are again living a nightmare.
asserted
Commanders → live → nightmare
It took just two games for franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels to go down with another significant injury.
asserted
Daniels → take → injury
He dislocated his elbow when he tried to brace himself while stumbling during Sunday’s 37-20 loss at Dallas.
asserted
he → dislocate → Dallas
The same injury occurred last November and kept Daniels out a month before he tried to play again and aggravated it.
asserted
he → occur → it
On Monday, coach Dan Quinn announced that Marcus Mariota will start at quarterback this weekend against Seattle.
asserted
Mariota → announce → Seattle
He also ominously said Daniels will see specialists later this week.
asserted
Daniels → say → specialists
The injury is to the third-year quarterback’s non-throwing arm, but it does nobody any good if Daniels is risking a gruesome dislocation any time he tries to use it to stay upright.
asserted
he → do → it
So now Washington has started 0-2, faces the defending Super Bowl champions this week and might be without its star quarterback for a while.
uncertain
Washington → start → while
The season is teetering before the Commanders even play their home opener Sunday.
asserted
Commanders → teeter → opener
“Not where we wanted to be, that’s for sure.
asserted
that → want → ?
But we also are resolute that that’s not where we’re going to be staying.
asserted
we → ’ → ?
And we had our chances in both games and both moments to not be in that spot,” Quinn said.
asserted
Quinn → have → spot
“So, I would say, certainly hurting for Jay and some of the other guys who were banged up, but also there’s a lot of resolve with this group of knowing that, ‘Hey, man, like, these are the things we have to get done together and we have enough in the room.’
asserted
we → say → room
Washington had areas of concern entering this season even with Daniels healthy.
asserted
Daniels → have → season
Now the Commanders turn to Mariota, who has had some good moments as a backup but now has to try and keep the offense moving behind a poor offensive line.
asserted
who → turn → line
Meanwhile, the fluky nature of this injury — Daniels was falling because he took a snap under center and his foot was stepped on by an offensive lineman — has to have Washington fans beside themselves.
asserted
foot → fall → themselves
They already saw Robert Griffin III have a great rookie season, then struggle to stay healthy.
asserted
III → see → season
Now Daniels has been unable to build on his incredible 2024 season, battling injuries ever since.
asserted
Daniels → build → injuries
“The freak ones like this, it’s hard to explain, honestly, as it’s going,” Quinn said.
asserted
Quinn → ’ → this
“I loved everything about the first half, how he was playing and what we did.
asserted
we → love → what
So, I haven’t gone there to think about it, but obviously, total surprise to see it.”
asserted
I → go → it
What’s working
Stefon Diggs continues to look solid in his first season in Washington.
asserted
Diggs → work → Washington
He had two touchdown catches against the Cowboys.
asserted
He → have → Cowboys
What needs work
Washington will have to adjust its offense with a new quarterback.
asserted
Washington → need → quarterback
Mariota has some mobility but isn’t the dynamic pass/run threat Daniels is.
asserted
Daniels → have → mobility
“I think the biggest thing is, all right, what do you want to feature with Marcus that you didn’t with Jayden?” Quinn said.
asserted
Quinn → think → Jayden
“It won’t be exactly the same, but fortunately, they’ll have a lot of similarities.”
asserted
they → have → similarities
Stock up
Rachaad White had 43 yards on seven carries and six catches for 40 yards against Dallas.
asserted
White → have → Dallas
The defense showed some positive signs in a Week 1 loss to Philadelphia, but the Cowboys scored on seven of their eight possessions against Washington.
asserted
Cowboys → show → Washington
Quinn said S Nick Cross was evaluated after the game with “an internal injury” and was flying back Monday after staying overnight in Texas.
asserted
Cross → say → Texas
“I won’t get into specifics,” Quinn said.
asserted
Quinn → get → specifics
“I was glad he was discharged and on the way back here.”
asserted
he → discharge → way
OL Brandon Coleman had a finger injury and is expected to practice this week.
asserted
Coleman → have → injury
DT Javon Kinlaw (shoulder) will be limited, and G Sam Cosmi is in the concussion protocol, adding to the offensive line’s problems.
asserted
Cosmi → limit → problems
Key numbers
The Commanders went 3-7 without Daniels last season.
asserted
Commanders → go → Daniels
Next steps
Washington hosts Seattle, which beat the Commanders 38-14 last year.
asserted
which → host → Commanders
The Aporia
