The Commanders head coach Coach Quinn has admitted he shares some the blame for a major injury to the squad’s quarterback, Daniels.
Details of the Injury and Context
Daniels, who enjoyed one of the greatest rookie campaigns in history last season, suffered a displaced elbow joint in the Sunday loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Even though Daniels throws with his dominant arm, the issue has placed his season uncertain. The injury was serious enough that the television broadcast avoided showing replays and multiple players looked away as he was attended to by team doctors.
Criticism and Coach’s Reaction
Quinn came under criticism as many believed Daniels should not have been on the playing surface in the first place. The injury happened in the final period with the Washington trailing 38-7, rendering a recovery unlikely. It is common in such situations for teams to put in their backup quarterback to prevent injuries to their first-string player.
“I get that. I’ve been reflecting about it constantly, too, and, man, I missed it,” Quinn said of his choice to leave Daniels in the match. “This is 100% on me.”
Aftermath and Team Prospects
Mariota will be the team’s starting quarterback going forward, but he will lead a team in turmoil. After making the NFC championship game last season thanks to Daniels’s excellence, the franchise have faced difficulties currently. They additionally saw injuries to cornerback Marshon Lattimore (torn ACL) and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey (collarbone fracture) on game day, and have a number of other starters on the injury list. The Commanders are 3-6 on the season, and it would require a massive reversal for the club to make the playoffs.
