Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has admitted he bears a portion of the blame for a major injury to the team’s quarterback, Jayden Daniels.
Details of the Harm and Context
Jayden Daniels, who enjoyed one of the greatest rookie campaigns in history the previous year, suffered a displaced elbow joint in Sunday’s defeat to the Seattle Seahawks. Even though the quarterback throws with his dominant arm, the issue has placed his season in doubt. The condition was serious enough that the television broadcast did not show replays and multiple players looked away as Daniels was attended to by medical staff.
Criticism and Coach’s Response
Coach Quinn faced criticism as many felt Daniels ought not to have been on the playing surface in the first place. The injury occurred in the fourth quarter with the Washington trailing 38-7, making a comeback unlikely. It is typical in these situations for teams to put in their reserve QB to avoid injuries to their starter.
“I get that. I’ve been reflecting about it nonstop, too, and, wow, I erred,” Quinn said of his decision to leave Daniels in the match. “That is 100% my fault.”
Fallout and Team Outlook
Marcus Mariota will be the team’s starting quarterback going forward, but he will guide a team in turmoil. After making the NFC championship game last season behind the rookie’s brilliance, the team have struggled currently. They also saw injuries to defensive back Lattimore (torn ACL) and pass-catcher Luke McCaffrey (broken collarbone) on Sunday, and have a number of other starters on the injury list. The Commanders are 3-6 so far, and it would take a massive turnaround for the club to make the postseason.
