Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow during the team’s Sunday Night Football matchup against the Seattle Seahawks on November 2, 2025. The injury happened late in the fourth quarter with Daniels scrambling near the Seahawks’ goal line. Seahawks linebacker Drake Thomas tackled Daniels awkwardly, causing his left (non-throwing) arm to bend backward in a gruesome fashion. Though Daniels was helped off the field with his arm in an air cast, initial X-rays ruled out any fractures, giving a glimmer of hope for recovery without surgery.
The injury cast a cloud over an already difficult night for the Commanders, who were trailing badly and eventually fell 38-14 to the Seahawks at Northwest Stadium. Head Coach Dan Quinn confirmed the injury’s severity but disclosed that an MRI would be done on Monday, November 3, to determine the full damage and expected recovery timeline. Early reports suggest Daniels will miss several games, though there remains optimism that the injury might not end his entire season.
Elbow dislocations are complex injuries where the bones in the joint are forced out of their normal positions, often damaging ligaments and surrounding tissues. According to medical experts, a simple dislocation without fractures typically requires weeks of healing and rehabilitation, whereas dislocations involving fractures or nerve damage can prolong recovery significantly.
Daniels’ injury adds to a challenging season for the young quarterback. After a stellar rookie year in 2024, Daniels was expected to lead the Commanders back to the playoffs. However, lingering injuries including hamstring and knee issues limited his playing time during the 2025 season. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota is now expected to take over as starter during Daniels’ absence.
Dan Quinn faced questions about why Daniels was still playing late in a decided game. Quinn explained it was a gut-wrenching decision but expressed no regrets about leaving the team’s franchise quarterback in the game. “In hindsight, you don’t want to consider that injury could happen, but sometimes it just does,” Quinn said.
The Washington Commanders now face a critical stretch without their starting quarterback and need to rally around Mariota to stay competitive. Fans and analysts alike watch closely for updates on Daniels’ MRI results and rehab progress, hopeful for a swift and full recovery.