Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels returns to the lineup Sunday against the New York Giants with a brace on his left arm and a warning from NFL doctors who believe his elbow will dislocate a third time.
ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported Sunday that “there are doctors around the NFL who believe it’s a matter of when, not if, Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels hurts his left elbow again.” Kickoff is 1 p.m. ET on FOX.
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Jayden Daniels’ elbow injury history
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) leaves the game with an apparent injury to his left arm during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys | Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
The 2023 Heisman Trophy winner first dislocated the elbow on Nov. 2, 2025, when he braced a fall with his left arm late in a 38-14 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks. He missed three games, returned in Week 14 at Minnesota wearing a brace and reinjured the elbow in that game. Washington shut him down for the final three games of the season.
The second dislocation came on the final play of the first half of a 37-20 loss at Dallas on Sept. 20, when Daniels again landed on his outstretched left arm. Exams found no fractures or extensive ligament damage, so the Commanders kept him off injured reserve and he skipped surgery.
Schefter has since reported that a procedure remains on the table after the season. Daniels missed the Week 3 win over Seattle and the Week 4 loss to Indianapolis.
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Why do doctors fear another dislocation?
Daniels visited specialists in New York and Los Angeles after the Dallas game. Schefter wrote that “the overwhelming opinion was that playing with a brace was a viable option,” but other league doctors who haven’t examined the 25-year-old “maintain that a player who dislocates his elbow twice” is “at a higher risk suffering another dislocation.”
Experts told ESPN that surgery is rare after a first elbow dislocation because recurrence rates run between 1% and 2%. Daniels is now past that point, and his new brace keeps the elbow slightly bent to prevent the joint from popping out again.
The former No. 2 overall pick brushed off reinjury concerns on Oct. 1 in England.
“That’s what the brace is for,” Daniels said. “If I had that concern, I would have gotten surgery.”
He doubled down Wednesday after a full practice. “I’m going to embrace the brace,” Daniels said.
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Commanders out of quarterback options
Washington Commanders quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (16) and Commanders wide receiver Treylon Burks (13) celebrate after connecting on a touchdown pass against the Indianapolis Colts | Geoff Burke-Imagn Images
Washington’s depth chart offered no fallback. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota sprained his right knee in the 30-13 loss to the Colts in London and is out, leaving rookie seventh-round pick Athan Kaliakmanis as the only other option. Kaliakmanis completed 15 of 33 passes for 186 yards with a touchdown and an interception after replacing Mariota.
Offensive coordinator David Blough said Thursday the elbow won’t shrink the game plan. “He’s full go,” Blough said.
The Commanders sit 1-3, two games behind the Giants in the NFC East, so a loss Sunday would put them three back. Daniels also becomes eligible for a contract extension after this season, which gives him every reason to stack starts.
Daniels has completed 56.9% of his passes for 260 yards and three touchdowns this season and has rushed 12 times for 100 yards. Both of his dislocations came on plays that ended with him on the ground, bracing himself with his left arm.
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