Washington Commanders leader Coach Quinn has stated he shares a portion of the fault for a serious injury to the team’s quarterback, Daniels.
Particulars of the Injury and Context
Daniels, who had among the best first-year performances of all time last season, sustained a displaced left elbow in the Sunday loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Although Daniels throws with his right arm, the issue has placed his season in doubt. The condition was serious enough that the television broadcast did not show replays and multiple athletes looked away as Daniels was treated by team doctors.
Criticism and Coach’s Reaction
Quinn came under criticism as numerous believed Daniels should not have been on the field to begin with. The incident happened in the fourth quarter with the Washington trailing 38-7, making a recovery unlikely. It is typical in these circumstances for clubs to put in their reserve QB to prevent injuries to their first-string player.
“I understand. I’ve been reflecting about it constantly, too, and, man, I missed it,” he said of his choice to keep Daniels in the game. “That is 100% on me.”
Aftermath and Squad Prospects
Mariota will be the team’s starting quarterback from now on, but he will lead a team in turmoil. After reaching the conference title game the prior year thanks to Daniels’s brilliance, the team have struggled this season. They also lost defensive back Lattimore (ACL tear) and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey (broken collarbone) on Sunday, and have a number of other starters on injured reserve. The Washington squad are 3-6 on the season, and it would take a huge turnaround for the club to make the postseason.
