Jayden Daniels Injury Update: Commanders QB Out vs Broncos on Sunday Night Football With Dislocated Elbow

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels remains sidelined as the team faces the Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football, with his ongoing elbow recovery still the dominant storyline in Washington. The rookie star is out after suffering a dislocated left elbow—his non‑throwing arm—in a Week 9 blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks, an injury that looked gruesome on replay and immediately raised fears about the rest of his season.

Daniels sustained the injury late in the fourth quarter when Seattle linebacker Drake Thomas dragged him down near the goal line and the quarterback tried to brace his fall with his left hand. His arm bent at an unnatural angle, trainers immobilized the elbow on the field, and he walked to the locker room with his arm in an air cast as stunned teammates took a knee. Subsequent evaluations confirmed a dislocated elbow, though early reports indicated no major ligament damage.

The Commanders avoided placing Daniels on injured reserve and instead opted for a week‑to‑week approach. Medical testing showed the elbow did not require surgery, keeping the door open for a potential return later this season depending on healing and the team’s place in the standings. For now, Washington is leaning on veteran backup Marcus Mariota, who entered the lineup after the injury and has started multiple games while Daniels rehabs.

Sunday’s primetime matchup against Denver underscored how cautious the franchise is being with its franchise quarterback. Multiple outlets noted before kickoff that Daniels was not yet cleared for contact, with Mariota again leading the offense as the Commanders try to stay in the NFC playoff conversation. Analysts and fans alike are watching the offense closely, comparing Mariota’s steadier but less explosive style to Daniels’ dual‑threat playmaking that had energized the team earlier in the year.

Daniels’ elbow issue comes after earlier concerns about a right hamstring injury that already cost him time this season, raising questions about how his aggressive running style will evolve. Former Washington great Joe Theismann publicly urged Daniels to “protect yourself” and be more selective as a runner once he returns, emphasizing that a quarterback’s greatest ability is availability. For Commanders fans, the hope is that the latest setback leads to smarter risks rather than a permanent dimming of the electrifying style that made Daniels one of the NFL’s most compelling young stars.