The Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has stated he shares some the blame for a major injury to the squad’s quarterback, Daniels.
Details of the Injury and Context
Daniels, who had one of the greatest first-year performances of all time last season, sustained a dislocated elbow joint in the Sunday defeat to the Seattle Seahawks. Even though Daniels passes with his dominant arm, the injury has placed his season uncertain. The injury was significant enough that the TV coverage did not show repeats and several players looked away as Daniels was attended to by medical staff.
Backlash and Leader’s Response
Coach Quinn faced criticism as many believed the rookie ought not to have been on the playing surface to begin with. The incident occurred in the final period with the Washington trailing 38-7, rendering a comeback unlikely. It is common in such circumstances for clubs to insert their backup quarterback to prevent injuries to their starter.
“I get that. I’ve been reflecting about it constantly, too, and, man, I missed it,” Quinn said of his decision to keep Daniels in the game. “That is 100% my fault.”
Aftermath and Team Outlook
Mariota will be the team’s primary QB from now on, but he will guide a team in turmoil. After reaching the conference title game the prior year behind the rookie’s excellence, the franchise have struggled this season. They additionally saw injuries to defensive back Lattimore (ACL tear) and pass-catcher Luke McCaffrey (broken collarbone) on game day, and have a number of other starters on the injury list. The Washington squad are 3-6 so far, and it would require a huge reversal for the club to reach the playoffs.
