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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels reportedly isn't expected to need surgery on his dislocated elbow and won't be immediately placed on injured reserve, sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport on Friday (November 7).
"Sources: #Commanders QB Jayden Daniels’ MRI and medical opinions revealed positive news, as his dislocated left elbow is not as serious as originally anticipated. There was no ligament damage & he won't need surgery. Daniels will not be immediately placed on Injured Reserve," Rapoport wrote on his X account. "This was a lengthy and complicated process including multiple opinions, with Jayden Daniels' speaking with some of the nation's experts. And the result was as positive as can be. Daniels' will be reevaluated during the bye week and multiple factors are at play. But good news."
Daniels, 24, who returned to action to make his first start since October 19, suffered the injury during the fourth quarter of his team's Sunday Night Football blowout loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
"I'm gutted by it," said Commanders head coach Dan Quinn during his postgame press conference, though not offering an update on the severity of the injury beyond confirming that it dealt with the quarterback's elbow at the time.
Daniels was walked off the field by staffers with 7:29 remaining in the fourth quarter as the Commanders trailed 38-7. The second-year quarterback was ruled out for last Monday's (October 27) 28-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs due to a low-grade hamstring strain, with backup Marcus Mariota having started in his place.
Daniels suffered the injury in the third quarter of the Commanders' blowout road loss to the Dallas Cowboys on October 19, with Mariota throwing for 63 yards and an interception -- which was returned by Cowboys cornerback DaRon Bland for a touchdown -- on 4 of 10 passing and recording 34 yards on two rushing attempts in the loss.
Daniels previously missed two starts due to a sprained left knee injury he sustained in a Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers, with Mariota going 1-1 in those games. The former Heisman Trophy winner is coming off one of the greatest rookie seasons for the quarterback position in NFL history, winning the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award after throwing for 3,568 yards, 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions on 331 of 480 passing, while also recording 891 yards and six touchdowns on 148 rushing attempts.