The Washington Commanders have struggled since appearing in the NFC Championship game last season and star quarterback Jayden Daniels has had one of the more unfortunate sophomore slumps due to injuries.
The Commanders were beat 44-22 by the division rival Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Daniels also left the game with a hamstring injury. Head coach Dan Quinn said Daniels will get an MRI on Monday and Daniels lobbied him to return to the game. Daniels has already missed two games this season with a knee injury.
The Commanders fall to 3-4 on the season, after going 12-5 in Daniels masterful rookie season and reaching the NFC title game. So far this season, the Commanders offensive production is in the top half of the league, but the defense is in the bottom quarter.
GettyARLINGTON, TEXAS – OCTOBER 19: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders warms up with a basketball before the game against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Dan Quinn Has Short Response For Reporter
Quinn was asked postgame if he was surprised where Washington sits after seven weeks of football.
“Yes. Very,” he responded.
It be easy to chalk things up to injuries, but Quinn refuses to do that.
“Injuries are not the reason that we lost,” he said. “It don’t matter who you have, or who is out, when you don’t give yourself a real chance at it. Turnover margin to penalties to missed tackles and drops.
“Dallas beat us and we beat ourselves, as well. We’re the ones that got ourselves in the hole and we’re the same ones that gotta dig ourselves out.”
Things don’t get easier from here for the Commanders. It’s possible they’ll have to travel to Kansas City next week without Daniels to play the Chiefs (4-3) on “Monday Night Football.” The Commanders then host the Seattle Seahawks (4-2) in Week 9 on “Sunday Night Football” followed by a matchup with the Detroit Lions (4-2) in Week 10.
Washington Commanders Have Multiple Injuries
The Commanders were also without their top three receivers — Terry McLaurin (quadriceps), Deebo Samuel (heel), and Noah Brown (knee/groin). Before leaving with an injury, Daniels threw for 156 yards and a touchdown and added another score on the ground.
Backup Marcus Mariota later guided a drive capped by Chris Rodriguez Jr.’s short touchdown run, but an overthrown fourth-down pass to Luke McCaffrey early in the fourth quarter ended any slim comeback hopes.
Washington also lost defensive end Dorance Armstrong, the team’s sack leader with 5.5, to a knee injury on the opening series. He did not return.
Dallas Cowboys’ Dak Prescott Continues Good Play
On the other hand, the Cowboys secured a much needed victory on Sunday, moving to 3-3-1 on the season. Dak Prescott tossed three touchdown passes — highlighted by a 74-yard strike to CeeDee Lamb — while DaRon Bland added a 68-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Prescott completed 21 of 30 passes for 264 yards, connecting with Jake Ferguson for two touchdowns. Ferguson became the first tight end in NFL history to record at least 50 receptions and six touchdown catches through the first seven games of a season.
All of Ferguson’s touchdowns have come during a four-game scoring streak — the second-longest by a Dallas tight end, trailing only Jason Witten’s five-game run in 2010.
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