Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was forced to leave his team’s Week 2 game against the Dallas Cowboys after suffering an elbow injury in the first half. The injury occurred with Washington just one yard from the end zone and three seconds before halftime, as the team trailed 17-10. Instead of attempting a field goal, the Commanders chose to run a play with Daniels under center. During the play, Daniels stumbled while preparing to pass and reached out with his left hand to steady himself. In doing so, his elbow dislocated as he awkwardly reached for the ground. Daniels was immediately taken off the field on a cart and underwent X-rays, as reported by the FOX broadcast. Before the injury, Daniels had completed 11 of his 17 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, and added 69 rushing yards. He was replaced by backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, who took over for the remainder of the game. Daniels, who was named the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has faced multiple injuries during his second season in the league, including a previous elbow injury that kept him out of four games. In total, he missed 10 games last season due to various ailments. This season marked the third year of Daniels’ professional career, and he entered it with hopes of bouncing back after a difficult 2025 season. However, the Commanders started their campaign with a loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in their season opener. The elbow injury adds to the challenges Daniels has faced, as he continues to work toward establishing himself as a consistent performer in the NFL. Despite the setbacks, Daniels’ performance in the first half showed promise, and his absence will be felt by the Commanders as they look to build momentum in the early part of the season. The team will now rely on Mariota and the rest of the offense to carry the load while Daniels recovers from his latest injury.