Jayden Daniels is back on the field for the Washington Commanders, but the elbow injury that kept him out in September is still part of the story.
Daniels dislocated his left elbow in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys. It was the second time he had dislocated the same elbow in less than a year. He missed two games, came back wearing a large brace, and has played since then.
Here is what happened, how serious the injury was, and what to watch next.
Latest Update: October 28, 2026
As of October 28, Daniels has returned to playing. There is no new elbow setback reported in the updates checked for this article.
Washington came out of its bye week with a 1-4-1 record through the first seven weeks. The team’s next game is against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, November 1. Daniels’ status for that game will become clearer when the Week 8 practice reports come out later this week, starting on Wednesday, October 28.
Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota is also working his way back. Head coach Dan Quinn said on Monday, October 27, that Mariota would return to practice after a sprained MCL in his knee. Mariota had started two games while Daniels was out.
That is good news for Washington. For most of October, the Commanders have had to deal with injuries at quarterback and in other spots too.
What Happened to Jayden Daniels?
The injury happened on Sunday, September 20, in Week 2 against Dallas.
It was the last play of the first half. Washington was at the Dallas 1-yard line with three seconds left. Daniels backed away from center, and left guard Chris Paul stepped on his foot.
Daniels lost his balance. He put his left arm out to brace his fall, and his elbow bent the wrong way. He threw a pass that fell incomplete as time ran out, stayed down for a moment, and then had to leave the field on a cart. Washington lost the game 37-20.
Before the injury, Daniels was having a strong half. He had completed 11 of 17 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown, and he had run for 69 yards.
Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed after the game that Daniels had dislocated his left elbow. Imaging showed the dislocation, but no fracture.
How Serious Is a Dislocated Elbow?
A dislocated elbow is a serious injury. It means the bones in the joint were forced out of their normal place. Ligaments, muscles, and nerves around the joint can also be affected.
In Daniels’ case, a rehab breakdown reported that imaging showed no fracture or ligament damage, and he rehabbed without surgery. That helped explain why he was able to return after only two missed games.
Still, this was not a small injury. The concern was not just this one fall. It was that the same elbow had already dislocated once before.
Daniels is right-handed, so the injured elbow is on his non-throwing arm. That helped him keep his normal throwing motion. But the left arm still matters a lot for a quarterback. He uses it for balance, to protect the ball, and to brace himself when he falls or takes a hit.
That is why Daniels now plays with a brace. The brace runs from his upper arm down to about the middle of his forearm. Daniels has said he is getting used to it.
“I’m going to embrace the brace,” Daniels said in October. “Just trying to get used to it, it’s kind of part of me now.”
Will Jayden Daniels Need Surgery?
Not right now, based on what the team has said.
General manager Adam Peters said soon after the injury that surgery was not in play for Daniels, and Daniels would not go on injured reserve. Daniels was listed as week-to-week while he saw specialists in Los Angeles and New York.
Daniels also made it clear he wanted to play. He told reporters in London that he did not need immediate surgery and wanted to help his team.
“I love football, I play football. I get paid to play football. So I owe it to my teammates,” Daniels said.
ESPN reported on September 29 that Daniels might still need surgery on the elbow, but he would delay any procedure until the offseason. That report has not been confirmed as a final plan by the team. It is best treated as a possibility for after the season, not a decision for this week.
There is also a wider concern about re-injury. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that doctors around the NFL who had not examined Daniels believe it is “a matter of when, not if” he hurts the left elbow again, because he has now dislocated it twice in about 11 months.
Those doctors had not examined Daniels themselves, so that is a reported concern, not a medical verdict on Daniels. But it does explain why Washington, Daniels, and fans are watching the elbow closely every week.
Jayden Daniels Injury Timeline
|
Date |
What happened |
|---|---|
|
October 20, 2024 |
Daniels suffered a rib injury against the Carolina Panthers in his rookie season. He did not miss a start. |
|
September 11, 2025 |
Daniels suffered a sprained left knee against Green Bay. He missed two games. |
|
October 19, 2025 |
Daniels suffered a hamstring strain at Dallas. He missed one game. |
|
November 2, 2025 |
Daniels dislocated his left elbow for the first time, against Seattle. He missed three games, returned in Week 14 with a brace, re-aggravated the injury, and missed the rest of the season. |
|
September 20, 2026 |
Daniels dislocated the same left elbow against Dallas in Week 2. He was carted off the field. |
|
Weeks 3-4, 2026 |
Daniels missed two games. Marcus Mariota started, won 33-31 against Seattle in Week 3, then suffered a sprained MCL in a 30-13 loss to Indianapolis in London in Week 4. |
|
October 7-8, 2026 |
Daniels was a full participant in practice with a brace on his left arm. |
|
October 9, 2026 |
Washington cleared Daniels to start against the New York Giants. Offensive coordinator David Blough called him “full go.” |
|
October 11, 2026 |
Daniels returned against the Giants. The game ended in a 27-27 tie. |
|
October 19, 2026 |
Daniels played against the San Francisco 49ers. Washington lost 23-17. |
|
October 27-28, 2026 |
Washington came out of its bye week. Mariota returned to practice. Week 8 practice reports begin October 28. |
Jayden Daniels Injury History in Short
Daniels had a strong rookie season in 2024. He won Offensive Rookie of the Year and led Washington to the NFC Championship Game.
Since then, injuries have cost him a lot of time. In 2025, he played in only seven games. Washington finished 5-12 and missed the playoffs.
In 2026, he has already missed two games with the elbow injury. That history is why the same injury happening again felt so frustrating for Washington fans. It was not just about two missed games. It was about a pattern Daniels and the team hoped was behind them.
At the same time, a return after two games was better than many feared on the night of the Dallas game, when the injury looked very bad on replay.
How the Injury Affected the Commanders
When Daniels is on the field, Washington’s offense looks different. He can throw on the move, escape pressure, and pick up yards with his legs. Defenses have to account for all of that.
Without him, Washington had to simplify things. Mariota played well in the Week 3 win over Seattle, completing 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns. But when Mariota got hurt in London, rookie Athan Kaliakmanis had to step in for his first NFL action.
Daniels’ return did not fix everything. Washington tied the Giants, then lost to San Francisco. Daniels also had a clock-management mistake late against the Giants, which he addressed with his teammates the next week.
“I let guys know it’ll never happen again and we’re going to move forward,” Daniels said.
It would be unfair to blame every bad play on the elbow. Protection, receiver availability, and coaching decisions all play a part. But playing with a brace, and thinking about how to fall safely, is one more thing for a young quarterback to manage.
What Happens Next?
Three things are worth watching from here.
First, practice reports. If Daniels keeps practicing in full, that is a good sign. Any limited practice or new injury designation would be the first warning of a change.
Second, how he protects himself. Washington and Daniels have worked on ways for him to go to the ground more safely. Sliding, getting out of bounds, and getting rid of the ball quickly can all help.
Third, the long-term plan for the elbow. The team has not announced surgery for this season. The decision about the offseason will likely come after the season, based on how stable the joint feels and what specialists advise.
For now, Daniels is playing. That is the main update. The risk has not gone away, but neither has Daniels.
Frequently Asked Questions
What injury did Jayden Daniels suffer?
Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow on September 20, 2026, in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys. It was his non-throwing elbow.
How many games did Jayden Daniels miss?
He missed two games in 2026, in Weeks 3 and 4, before returning in Week 5 against the New York Giants.
Is Jayden Daniels playing now?
Yes. He returned on October 11, 2026, against the Giants, wearing a brace on his left arm. His status for each week still depends on practice reports and team announcements.
Did Jayden Daniels injure his throwing arm?
No. Daniels is right-handed. The injury was to his left elbow. The left arm is still important for balance, ball security, and absorbing contact.
Did Jayden Daniels have surgery on his elbow?
No surgery was announced for the 2026 season. ESPN reported he might need a procedure in the offseason, but the team said surgery was not in play right after the injury and Daniels returned without it.
Has Jayden Daniels dislocated his elbow before?
Yes. He dislocated the same left elbow on November 2, 2025, against the Seattle Seahawks. He missed three games, returned with a brace, re-aggravated the injury, and missed the rest of that season.
Conclusion
The Jayden Daniels injury in September 2026 was scary to watch, and it brought back bad memories from 2025. But Daniels missed only two games this time, returned with a brace, and is back leading Washington’s offense.
The elbow will stay a talking point for the rest of the season. Two dislocations in less than a year are hard to ignore. What matters now is whether the joint stays stable, whether Daniels can protect himself when he runs, and whether Washington can give him the protection and support he needs.
If he stays on the field, Washington has its starting quarterback back. If the elbow becomes a problem again, the Commanders will have to turn to Mariota again — and the questions about Daniels’ long-term health will only get louder.
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