Jayden Daniels spent most of his 2025 season dealing with injuries. Only two weeks into the 2026 season, the Washington Commanders quarterback is dealing with another one.
It was a freak injury for Daniels, who was stepped on during a crucial third-down play just ahead of halftime. However, the real injury occurred as the quarterback tried to brace his fall.
Daniels suffered what appeared to be a gruesome arm injury after it turned the wrong way.
To make matters worse, it was the same elbow that he dislocated in 2025. Daniels remained down on the field as the clock ran out.
He was eventually carted off the field with a towel over his head.
Here's what to know.
Jayden Daniels injury update
Daniels suffered an arm injury in the final seconds of Week 2, before halftime.
The quarterback
had just turned around when it appeared his legs got tangled with the offensive line. Daniels, trying to keep the play alive, went to brace his fall when his elbow seemingly gave out.
Daniels had his last season derailed by a dislocated elbow injury, which was the same one he hurt on Sunday.
He was carted off the field with a towel over his head.
Commanders QB depth chart
The Commanders have three quarterbacks available for Sunday's game against the Cowboys. Below is a look at the pecking order within that unit:
- Jayden Daniels
- Marcus Mariota
- Athan Kaliakmanis
Kaliakmanis, a seventh-round rookie from Rutgers, is the Commanders' emergency, third-string quarterback for Sunday's game. He can enter the contest if both Daniels and Mariota are hurt, but otherwise would not be available to play.
The Commanders also have Sam Hartman on their practice squad and could elevate him in future weeks if Daniels misses time. The Notre Dame product has spent three seasons in Washington since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2024 but has never attempted a regular-season pass.
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jayden Daniels injury update as Commanders QB injures elbow in Week 2
