It’s hard to understand why Washington Commanders superstar quarterback Jayden Daniels was still in the game, down 30 points in the fourth quarter of a lost game in a lost season, but there he was.
And when all of America had to watch Daniels’ left arm get gruesomely twisted around — what ended up to be a dislocated left elbow — the spotlight quickly turned to Commanders head coach Dan Quinn.
Why, pray tell, would Quinn even still have Daniels in a game that was clearly out of hand and risk injury to the future of the franchise and a potential future face of the NFL?
“I mean, obviously, like, the hindsight, you don’t want to think that way, where an injury could take place,” Quinn said about having Daniels in late in a 38-14 loss that dropped the Commanders to 3-6. “ … But just the end result, obviously, I’m bummed.”
One day later, that answer still wasn’t holding up. And Quinn was facing criticism seemingly coming from all sides.
“It was, simply, malpractice, for Jayden Daniels to be playing in the fourth quarter Sunday night,” The Athletic’s David Aldridge wrote on Monday, November 3.
Quinn Taking Shots From All Sides
The criticism of Quinn over losing Daniels to an unnecessary and likely season ending injury came from all sides.
For the Commanders fan base, there’s some level of PTSD in seeing a franchise quarterback go down with a controversial injury just a decade removed from seeing another No. 2 overall pick — and another NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year — go down with an injury after Robert Griffin III saw his career come undone due to injuries.
“I don’t care. Jayden Daniels getting injured is 100% on Dan Quinn & the coaching staff. NO reason why your starting QB should be in the game down 38-7 playing in garbage time,” Sleeper HQ’s Brandon wrote on his official X account.
“FIRE DAN QUINN AND THE ENTIRE COACHING STAFF RIGHT (EXPLETIVE) NOW,” Barstool Sports writer Eric Nathan wrote on his official X account.
“Not taking ownership … the most obvious reason you’re going to lose a locker room.” CBS Sports analyst Damien Harris said. “I’m upset with Dan Quinn right now.”
“THIS IS A FIREABLE OFFENSE BY DAN QUINN AND THE COMMANDERS COACHING STAFF: Leaving your young franchise quarterback, Jayden Daniels, in a blowout game, and he then proceeds to have a gruesome injury.” ML Football wrote on its official X account. “This is negligent and completely unacceptable.”
Quinn’s Long History of Bad Coaching Decisions
While Daniels getting hurt was awful to see, the chances of it being a career ending injury are almost nil — although the damage it may do to his relationship with Quinn might be a bigger question.
For Quinn, it’s also not the worst amount of flak he’s received as an NFL head coach.
Please remember that Quinn was the Atlanta Falcons head coach in Super Bowl LI, when they blew a 28-3 third quarter lead to the New England Patriots on the way to a 34-28 loss — the greatest comeback in NFL history, bar none.
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