Commanders to Start Marcus Mariota vs. Seahawks as Jayden Daniels Evaluates Elbow Injury

Jayden Daniels will consult specialists on Tuesday and Wednesday regarding a dislocated left elbow suffered during a 37-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow on the final play of the first half during Sunday's 37-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. While X-rays showed no structural damage, head coach Dan Quinn announced that Daniels will consult specialists on Tuesday and Wednesday to establish a recovery timeline. Before exiting, Daniels completed 11 of 17 passes for 96 yards and rushed seven times for 69 yards. The injury occurred when left guard Chris Paul stepped on the quarterback's foot, causing Daniels to stumble and his elbow to bend inward as he tried to break his fall.

Marcus Mariota is scheduled to start the upcoming home opener against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis currently serves as the team's No. 3 quarterback, and the organization has not yet determined if they will sign a veteran backup. This latest setback marks the fourth time in five games that Daniels has been forced to exit due to injury, following a 2025 season where he missed 10 games with knee and hamstring issues.

The Commanders roster faces additional health challenges following the Week 3 defeat. Left tackle Laremy Tunsil may miss the remainder of the season with a torn triceps, while right guard Sam Cosmi has entered concussion protocol. Safety Nick Cross was released from a Dallas hospital on Monday after being treated for an internal injury sustained during the game.