Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has stated he shares a portion of the blame for a serious ailment to the squad’s quarterback, Daniels.
Details of the Injury and Situation
Daniels, who enjoyed among the best first-year performances in history last season, sustained a displaced elbow joint in Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Although Daniels throws with his right arm, the injury has placed his campaign in doubt. The condition was serious enough that the television broadcast avoided showing replays and multiple players turned away as Daniels was attended to by medical staff.
Criticism and Coach’s Response
Quinn faced criticism as numerous felt Daniels ought not to have been on the field to begin with. The injury occurred in the fourth quarter with the Commanders trailing 38-7, rendering a recovery improbable. It is common in these circumstances for teams to insert their backup quarterback to avoid injuries to their starter.
“I get that. I’ve been thinking about it nonstop, too, and, man, I erred,” Quinn said of his decision to leave Daniels in the game. “This is 100% on me.”
Aftermath and Team Prospects
Marcus Mariota will be the team’s starting quarterback going forward, but he will lead a roster in disarray. Following reaching the conference title game last season behind the rookie’s brilliance, the team have struggled this season. They also saw injuries to cornerback Lattimore (torn ACL) and wide receiver Luke McCaffrey (collarbone fracture) on game day, and have a number of other key players on the injury list. The Commanders are three wins and six losses so far, and it would require a massive turnaround for the club to reach the playoffs.
