Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has stated he shares a portion of the blame for a major ailment to the team’s quarterback, Daniels.
Particulars of the Injury and Context
Daniels, who enjoyed one of the greatest rookie campaigns of all time last season, sustained a displaced elbow joint in Sunday’s defeat to the Seahawks. Even though Daniels throws with his right arm, the injury has placed his season uncertain. The injury was serious enough that the television broadcast did not show replays and multiple players looked away as he was attended to by team doctors.
Criticism and Coach’s Reaction
Quinn faced scrutiny as many believed Daniels should not have been on the field in the first place. The incident happened in the final period with the Washington trailing 38-7, rendering a recovery unlikely. It is common in such situations for teams to insert their backup quarterback to prevent injuries to their first-string player.
“I get that. I’ve been reflecting about it constantly, too, and, wow, I missed it,” Quinn said of his decision to leave Jayden in the game. “That is 100% my fault.”
Fallout and Squad Prospects
Mariota will be the Commanders’ starting quarterback from now on, but he will guide a roster in disarray. After reaching the NFC championship game last season behind Daniels’s excellence, the franchise have faced difficulties currently. They also lost defensive back Marshon Lattimore (ACL tear) and pass-catcher Luke McCaffrey (broken collarbone) on game day, and have a host of other key players on injured reserve. The Washington squad are three wins and six losses so far, and it would require a massive reversal for the team to make the postseason.
