Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow during a game against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. The injury occurred less than a year after he suffered the same injury during the previous season.
This marks the second time the quarterback has faced a dislocation of his left elbow. The team did not immediately release a timeline for his recovery following this latest occurrence.
The injury took place during Sunday's matchup. Daniels is one of two prominent young quarterbacks to suffer injuries during this period of the NFL season, alongside Caleb Williams.
A person following the team or the league will notice Daniels' absence from the starting lineup and team broadcasts. The concrete day-to-day change involves the Commanders moving to a backup quarterback and adjusting their offensive strategy to accommodate a different player's skill set. The exact length of his absence remained unknown at the time of reporting.
Knock-on effects include changes to the competitive standing of the Commanders within their division and the broader NFL playoff race. It also sets a precedent for how the team manages Daniels' physical health moving forward, given the recurring nature of this specific joint injury. The team will likely provide updates on his status following further medical examinations. What happens next depends on the results of those evaluations, which will determine if Daniels requires surgery or a period of rest before he can return to the field.