Poor Washington Commanders fans have heard this story before. The team has a history of the star quarterbacks being lost to injury.
Jayden Daniels was injured Week 9 on “Sunday Night Football” when he suffered a gruesome left elbow dislocation. Daniels is now part of the Washington fraternity of quarterbacks with injury troubles, including Alex Smith, Robert Griffin III, and Joe Theismann.
Similar to Daniels, Theismann’s injury took place on primetime television, this time on “Monday Night Football” in 1985. Theismann’s leg broke after New York Giants legend Lawrence Taylor landed on it. Taylor can immediately be seen yelling to the sideline for medical staff. Similar scenes unfolded on Sunday.
But, Daniels has not been placed on injured reserve. Head coach Dan Quinn said Daniels suffered no ligament damage and will not need surgery. Meaning, there is a possibility Daniels could return this season if the hole they dig isn’t too deep. The Commanders (3-7) face the Miami Dolphins (3-7) in an international matchup in Madrid, Spain, Sunday morning.
GettyLANDOVER, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 02: Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders walks to the locker room after injuring his left arm during the fourth quarter against the Seattle Seahawks in the game at Northwest Stadium on November 02, 2025 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
Joe Theismann Says Jayden Daniels Playing Would Be Beneficial
Theismann told Fox News that the Commanders should let Daniels back on the field only if he is “medically cleared 100%, that he would not risk further injury to any of the injuries that he’s had.”
“I think being able to go back and play at some point would be beneficial to him to continue to grow,” Theismann told the outlet. “You have to remember he’s only in his second year and hasn’t played a lot in his second year. And the only real way you learn how to play this game is being out on the field, because you have to manage situations, you have to anticipate coverages, you have to protect yourself.”
Joe Theismann on Daniels, Dart, Richardson
The âprotect yourselfâ aspect may be the most crucial, particularly for a mobile quarterback like Daniels.
“This is the one thing I tell all young quarterbacks when I get a chance to be around them: Don’t count on the rules to protect you. Protect yourself, run out of bounds, slide, throw the ball away. Always think of the next opportunity, the next play, because it doesn’t do you any good to try and take a shot or try and get special stuff when youâre hurt. You canât learn when youâre hurt,” Theismann said.
“Same thing with Jaxson Dart â part of his game is running. OK, fine. Anthony Richardson, his game was running. You’re not gonna run over these guys, and here’s the thing â this is what I see. What people don’t understand is that as a wide receiver, you get to protect yourself a little more. As a running quarterback, when you get hit, you’re not used to getting pounded. You’re not used to going to the ground. It’s not an everyday occurrence for you as a quarterback. You’re in a pack of people when you drop back, but when you get out into open space, you get tackled. The thing that happens is your head hits the ground â that’s where the concussions occur. You watch quarterbacks in the pocket, their bottom hits the ground, then all of a sudden, bang â that’s where you get all the concussions. And when youâre in the open field, youâre easy meat. Hopefully heâll be smarter after this. You donât have to show you can run. There are times and ways to run, and times and ways not to run. Protect yourself.”
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