Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has admitted he bears some the fault for a serious ailment to the squad’s quarterback, Daniels.
Details of the Injury and Context
Daniels, who had among the best first-year performances in history the previous year, sustained a displaced left elbow in Sunday’s defeat to the Seahawks. Although Daniels throws with his dominant arm, the injury has placed his campaign uncertain. The condition was significant enough that the television broadcast avoided showing replays and several players turned away as Daniels was attended to by team doctors.
Criticism and Leader’s Reaction
Coach Quinn faced criticism as many believed Daniels should not have been on the playing surface in the first place. The injury occurred in the final period with the Washington trailing 38-7, rendering a comeback improbable. It is typical in these situations for clubs to insert their backup quarterback to prevent harm 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 decision to leave Daniels in the game. “That is 100% on me.”
Fallout and Squad Outlook
Mariota will be the team’s primary QB going forward, but he will guide a roster in disarray. After reaching the NFC championship game the prior year behind Daniels’s brilliance, the team have struggled this season. They also lost cornerback Marshon Lattimore (ACL tear) and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey (broken collarbone) on game day, and have a host of other starters on the injury list. The Commanders are 3-6 so far, and it would take a huge turnaround for the team to make the postseason.
