With Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels dislocating his left elbow again in Washington’s Week 2 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the Commanders have options for what to do next, according to former NFL team physician Dr. David J. Chao.
Jayden Daniels could return sooner than expected with an elbow brace, but he’ll likely need it for the rest of the season.
— David J. Chao - ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) September 21, 2026
Why surgery could still be considered, and why not operating after the first dislocation wasn’t a mistake. pic.twitter.com/4lhBk2dmuk
Essentially, Chao says Daniels could return sooner than expected if he is willing to wear an elbow brace for the rest of the season. That is because he is right-handed and the injury is to his left elbow, so he can still throw the ball. Daniels would
probably have to be less aggressive running the ball to minimize contact on the elbow.
Chao also presents the possibility that Daniels could opt for surgery to repair his elbow to prevent future issues with the elbow. Given this is the second time Daniels has dislocated this elbow — he also aggravated it when he returned last season — it would not be surprising if this is the choice he ultimately went with. If he opts for surgery, he would miss the remainder of the season, but should be fully healthy for the offseason program next spring. It would be the second season in a row Daniels would miss significant time due to injury.
This would also probably mean another year Washington does not make the playoffs. They are already in a hole after losing their second division game of the season and face an uphill battle in their third game of the year against the Seattle Seahawks, the defending Super Bowl champions.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Former NFL team physician breaks down Jayden Daniels' options after elbow injury
