Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has admitted he bears a portion of the blame for a major ailment to the squad’s quarterback, Daniels.
Details of the Injury and Context
Daniels, who enjoyed one of the greatest rookie campaigns in history the previous year, sustained a displaced left elbow in Sunday’s defeat to the Seattle Seahawks. Even though Daniels throws with his dominant arm, the issue has left his campaign in doubt. The condition was serious enough that the TV coverage avoided showing replays and several players looked away as Daniels was attended to by medical staff.
Backlash and Leader’s Response
Coach Quinn faced scrutiny 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 Washington trailing 38-7, rendering a comeback improbable. It is common in these circumstances for clubs to put in their reserve QB to avoid harm to their starter.
“I understand. I’ve been thinking about it nonstop, too, and, wow, I missed it,” Quinn remarked of his choice to keep Jayden in the game. “This is 100% on me.”
Fallout and Team Outlook
Marcus Mariota will be the team’s starting quarterback going forward, but he will guide a roster in disarray. After making the conference title game last season behind Daniels’s brilliance, the franchise have faced difficulties currently. They also lost cornerback Marshon Lattimore (ACL tear) and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey (collarbone fracture) on game day, and have a host of other starters on injured reserve. The Commanders are three wins and six losses on the season, and it would require a huge turnaround for the club to make the playoffs.
