Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has admitted he shares some the fault for a major injury to the squad’s quarterback, Jayden Daniels.
Particulars of the Harm and Situation
Daniels, who enjoyed among the best first-year performances in history the previous year, suffered a displaced elbow joint in Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks. Even though Daniels throws with his dominant arm, the issue has left his season uncertain. The condition was serious enough that the TV coverage avoided showing replays and multiple players looked away as he was treated by medical staff.
Backlash 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 injury happened in the final period with the Washington behind 38-7, rendering a recovery unlikely. It is common in these circumstances for teams to insert their reserve QB to prevent harm to their first-string player.
“I get that. I’ve been thinking about it constantly, too, and, man, I erred,” Quinn said of his choice to keep Jayden in the game. “This is 100% my fault.”
Aftermath and Team Outlook
Marcus Mariota will be the team’s starting quarterback from now on, but he will guide a team in turmoil. After reaching the NFC championship game the prior year thanks to the rookie’s brilliance, the franchise have struggled currently. They also saw injuries to cornerback Marshon Lattimore (torn ACL) and pass-catcher McCaffrey (broken collarbone) on game day, and have a number of other starters on the injury list. The Commanders are 3-6 so far, and it would take a massive reversal for the team to reach the postseason.
