Jayden Daniels injury update: Encouraging news emerges on Commanders QB's dislocated elbow

After suffering what appeared to be a season-ending elbow injury in Washington’s 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks Sunday night, Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels‘ left elbow injury is reportedly not as serious as originally anticipated. Those are the reports surfacing today.

Per NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport, there is no ligament damage and Daniels will not need surgery. The former Heisman Trophy winner will not be placed on Injury Reserve, meaning that there is certainly a path for him to return to game action this season.

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. pic.twitter.com/mB1zZ6D8oj

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 7, 2025

“This was a lengthy and complicated process including multiple opinions, with Jayden Daniels‘ speaking with some of the nation’s experts,” Rapoport wrote. “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.”

Although the Commanders trailed 38-7 with 7:39 remaining in regulation, Daniels remained in the game at quarterback. He was sacked on the Seahawks’ two-yard line and suffered the injury, which resulted in him having a brace placed on his arm as he walked off the field. Head coach Dan Quinn took full responsibility for leaving the franchise quarterback in the game trailing by so much.

“I get that,” Quinn said. “I’ve been thinking about it nonstop, too, and man, I missed it. … That is 100% on me.”

“Obviously, the hindsight, you don’t want to think that way that an injury would take place. We were more conservative in that spot to run and hand off. Just the end result, obviously, I’m bummed. …We didn’t have any read plays on it. The one that he was injured, there’s usually a runner or a throw to the flat, not a scramble. So it wasn’t a designed read or play into that spot. If we run it 50 times, it’s either a handoff or a throw 50 times.”

It’s been an extremely tough season for Washington, which made a run to the NFC Championship Game last year. The Commanders have been ripped apart by injuries, including to wide receiver Terry McLaurin, defensive back Marshon Lattimore, and running back Austin Ekeler to name a few.

Across six games this season, Daniels has passed for 1,184 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions. With Washington sitting at 3-6, the organization could ultimately decide to just shut down Daniels for the remainder of the season to avoid further damage in a lost year.