The Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has admitted he bears a portion of the fault for a major injury to the team’s signal-caller, Jayden Daniels.
Particulars of the Harm and Context
Daniels, who enjoyed one of the greatest rookie campaigns of all time the previous year, suffered a dislocated left elbow in the Sunday loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Even though Daniels throws with his right arm, the injury has left his campaign in doubt. The condition was significant enough that the television broadcast avoided showing replays and several athletes looked away as Daniels was attended to by medical staff.
Backlash and Coach’s Reaction
Coach Quinn faced criticism as many felt the rookie should not have been on the field to begin with. The incident happened in the final period with the Commanders trailing 38-7, rendering a comeback unlikely. It is common in these situations for teams to insert their backup quarterback to prevent harm to their starter.
“I get that. I’ve been reflecting about it constantly, too, and, man, I erred,” he said of his choice to keep Daniels in the game. “That is 100% on me.”
Aftermath and Squad Prospects
Mariota will be the team’s starting quarterback going forward, but he will guide a team in turmoil. After making the conference title game the prior year behind the rookie’s excellence, the franchise have struggled this season. They additionally saw injuries to defensive back Marshon Lattimore (torn ACL) and pass-catcher McCaffrey (broken collarbone) on game day, and have a number of other starters on the injury list. The Washington squad are 3-6 on the season, and it would require a huge turnaround for the club to reach the postseason.
