Washington Commanders leader Dan Quinn has admitted he shares a portion of the fault for a serious injury to the team’s quarterback, Jayden Daniels.
Details of the Harm and Context
Daniels, who enjoyed one of the greatest first-year performances of all time the previous year, suffered a displaced left elbow in Sunday’s defeat to the Seattle Seahawks. Although the quarterback throws with his right arm, the issue has placed his season in doubt. The condition was serious enough that the TV coverage did not show repeats and multiple athletes turned away as Daniels was attended to by medical staff.
Criticism and Coach’s Response
Quinn faced scrutiny as numerous felt the rookie should not have been on the field to begin with. The injury happened in the final period with the Commanders trailing 38-7, making a recovery unlikely. It is common in these circumstances for clubs to put in their backup quarterback to prevent injuries to their starter.
“I get that. I’ve been reflecting about it constantly, too, and, wow, I missed it,” he said of his decision to keep Daniels in the game. “That is 100% my fault.”
Fallout and Squad Outlook
Mariota will be the Commanders’ primary QB from now on, but he will lead a roster in disarray. After making the NFC championship game the prior year behind the rookie’s brilliance, the team have struggled currently. They also lost cornerback Marshon Lattimore (ACL tear) and pass-catcher Luke McCaffrey (collarbone fracture) on game day, and have a number of other starters on the injury list. The Commanders are 3-6 so far, and it would require a huge reversal for the club to make the postseason.
