The Washington Commanders are turning to Marcus Mariota after head coach Dan Quinn confirmed that Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow again in Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
X-rays showed no fracture, but Daniels was scheduled for additional testing Monday. The quarterback is expected to miss time, with no specific return date established in the initial postgame update.
“We’ll rally around Marcus,” Quinn said.
Washington lost 37-20 to Dallas and fell to 0-2. Mariota took over after halftime, leaving the Commanders to prepare for another stretch without Daniels while awaiting the results of further testing.
What happened to Jayden Daniels against the Cowboys?
Washington was trailing 17-10 and had reached the Dallas 1-yard line when the injury occurred just before halftime. With three seconds remaining, the Commanders kept their offense on the field for another attempt at a touchdown.
TOM BRADY ON LIVE TELEVISION REACTING TO THE SIGNIFICANT ARM INJURY FOR JAYDEN DANIELS.
“OH, SHIT.”
WOW 😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/kVWIZRHsJz https://t.co/YgBYgd9uLZ
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) September 20, 2026
Daniels stumbled while moving backward and landed awkwardly on his left arm. The Commanders subsequently ruled him out with an elbow injury, before Quinn confirmed the dislocation after the game.
Earlier in the half, Daniels had brought Washington back within one score. He finished an eight-play, 66-yard drive with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Stefon Diggs after Dallas had taken a 17-3 lead.
How long will Daniels be out?
Ian Rapoport reported that Daniels is expected to miss time and noted that his previous dislocation kept him out for approximately a month. That earlier absence is historical context, rather than a confirmed recovery timetable for this injury.
#Commanders coach Dan Quinn said QB Jayden Daniels suffered another dislocated left elbow, and he is expected to miss time. X-Rays were negative.
The last time he had this injury, he missed about a month. pic.twitter.com/0lLwvQXAzz
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 21, 2026
The negative X-rays did not settle the question of his availability, with more imaging still scheduled for Monday. The initial reports did not establish a return date or whether surgery would be needed.
Daniels made just seven starts during the 2025 regular season, compared with 17 in 2024. Another absence would interrupt Washington’s effort to establish continuity with its starting quarterback early in the new season.
What Marcus Mariota brings as Daniels’ replacement
Mariota completed 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards and one touchdown without an interception against Dallas. His relief appearance gave Washington a look at its immediate replacement, though one half offers a limited basis for projecting an extended starting assignment.
The Commanders have a larger sample from last year. During the 2025 regular season, Mariota appeared in 11 games for Washington and threw for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions, completing 139 of 227 passes.
Washington was one of two teams forced into a quarterback change Sunday, with Caleb Williams also leaving Chicago’s game with a hamstring injury. For the Commanders, Quinn has identified the immediate answer in Mariota; Monday’s evaluation should provide more information about Daniels’ injury.
