ARLINGTON, Texas — The Commanders fell to the Cowboys, 37-20, on Sunday in a game marked by Jayden Daniels dislocating his left elbow for a second consecutive season.
Trailing 17-10 on the final play of the first half, Washington opted to go for it from Dallas’ 1-yard line rather than kick a field goal. Left guard Chris Paul inadvertently stepped on Daniels’ foot as the quarterback dropped back, causing Daniels to stumble to the ground and use his left arm to brace the fall. He was carted off as Washington made its way to the locker room for the break.
Coach Dan Quinn said after the game that Daniels dislocated his elbow but there was no fracture. Daniels will undergo more tests this week. Last year, he dislocated his left elbow in a Week 9 loss to the Seahawks.
Both the offense and defense started slow on Sunday. The offense totaled just seven yards on its first drive, and a 13-play, 73-yard drive on the next possession led to just three points. On the other side, the defense surrendered 89 yards in the first quarter to CeeDee Lamb alone. Washington trailed 17-3 in the second quarter before settling in and giving itself a chance to tie the game before half.
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Despite Daniels’ injury, Washington gave a spirited effort coming out of halftime, with Marcus Mariota dancing in the backfield on multiple plays to keep a drive alive. He found Terry McLaurin for a 26-yard gain and then connected with Dyami Brown on a 29-yard touchdown that was reviewed and ruled incomplete.
Mariota later connected with receiver Stefon Diggs for a 20-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.
But the offense received little support from the defense, which was torched by Dallas. The unit was consistently beaten deep, allowing four touchdown passes by Dak Prescott and 153 yards and two scores by Lamb.
“Coming into this game, we understand that [Lamb] and [George] Pickens were premier receivers. So [we’re trying to] keep covering them, limiting explosives, not letting them get going early. Flat out: We didn’t do a great job of that today,” said cornerback Mike Sainristil. “We know that we have a lot more work to do.”
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Moment That Mattered
The pivotal moment was obviously the play call at the end of the first half. The Commanders started the drive from their own 35-yard line with five minutes left in the second quarter and methodically worked their way down the field. Daniels completed three passes for 27 yards and scrambled for another 24 yards.
But facing a third down from the 1 with just three seconds left, Washington decided to go for the touchdown rather than take a safe field goal — even when they were set to receive the ball after the break.
While Quinn acknowledged it led to Daniels’ injury, he stood by his decision to chase the points.
“We need touchdowns,” he said. “And so, I don’t regret the call. Any time someone’s injured, you play the ‘What if?’ game. I don’t think this is one of those times for me. I hate that it happened — but I wasn’t hesitant about going into that spot. … Obviously, the outcome sucks but it wasn’t a ‘What if?’”
Postgame Scene
There was a funereal tone in the visitors’ locker room after Sunday’s game, to be expected with Daniels’ injury and the 0-2 start. Since 2002 only 19 of 196 (9.7%) teams that have started 0-2 have gone on to make the playoffs, according to NFL Research.
Players sat at their lockers looking dejected, their voices low. Running back Rachaad White, who played two seasons with Daniels at Arizona State and was on the field for the injury, said he cried at his locker.
Center Nick Allegretti said he felt helpless when he turned and saw the pain in Daniels’ face.
“The injuries are probably the worst part of this game,” he said. “We see these guys more than our families during the season. Seeing something like that sucks.”
McLaurin, who spent weeks on the injured list with Daniels last season, said the players were reluctant to return to the locker room at halftime as Daniels laid on the field waiting for the medical cart.
“It took the air out of us,” he said.
McLaurin, safety Jeremy Reaves and Mariota tried to refocus the team as best they could coming out for the second half.
“Guys were dejected for a little bit, which is going to happen, but we didn’t have a lot of time to really sink in, understand what had happened, because the momentum is something that you don’t want to give up,” linebacker Odafe Oweh said.
As they did for 10 games last season, the Commanders will now lean on Mariota. The 12-year veteran came in and went 11 of 16 for 111 yards and a touchdown in the second half Sunday. While he never wants to see an injury, Mariota said he has the ability to lead the team in Daniels’ absence.
“I feel confident,” he said. “I feel comfortable. I really like what [offensive coordinator David] Blough is doing. I believe in this system, and we’ll get this thing right.”
His teammates agree.
“The offense is still open, so we’re going to rally around him and make plays, and we all got to step up for that,” McLaurin said. “Marcus is just a great teammate. He’s a great human being, and I know he’s just going to be himself out there.”
More Bad News
While Daniels’ injury is the main story, the quarterback was one of a handful of Commanders players to exit Sunday’s game. Left tackle Brandon Coleman left early in the fourth quarter with a finger injury and did not return. Soon after, defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw walked off the field in pain; he was later seen in the locker room with his right shoulder wrapped up.
With 2:32 left in the game, right guard Sam Cosmi collided with running back Kaytron Allen. Cosmi immediately took his helmet off and laid on the field for an extended period. Quinn said Cosmi is in concussion protocol.
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