Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has admitted he shares a portion of the fault for a serious injury to the squad’s quarterback, Jayden Daniels.
Particulars of the Harm and Situation
Daniels, who enjoyed one of the greatest first-year performances in history last season, suffered a dislocated left elbow in the Sunday defeat to the Seattle Seahawks. Although the quarterback throws with his dominant arm, the injury has placed his season in doubt. The condition was significant enough that the TV coverage avoided showing repeats and multiple players turned away as he was attended to by medical staff.
Criticism and Leader’s Response
Quinn came under criticism as many felt the rookie should not have been on the playing surface to begin with. The incident happened in the fourth quarter with the Commanders behind 38-7, rendering a comeback improbable. It is typical in such situations for teams to insert their reserve QB to avoid injuries to their starter.
“I understand. I’ve been reflecting about it constantly, too, and, man, I missed it,” Quinn said of his decision to keep Daniels in the match. “That is 100% my fault.”
Aftermath and Squad Prospects
Mariota will be the Commanders’ primary QB going forward, but he will lead a roster in disarray. Following reaching the NFC championship game last season 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 host of other starters on the injury list. The Washington squad are three wins and six losses so far, and it would take a massive turnaround for the team to reach the postseason.
