The Commanders head coach Dan Quinn has admitted he bears a portion of the blame for a major ailment to the squad’s signal-caller, Daniels.
Details of the Harm and Situation
Daniels, who enjoyed among the best rookie campaigns of all time last season, suffered a dislocated left elbow in Sunday’s defeat to the Seattle Seahawks. Although the quarterback passes with his right arm, the injury has left his season uncertain. The injury was significant enough that the television broadcast avoided showing replays and several athletes turned away as Daniels was attended to by team doctors.
Backlash and Coach’s Reaction
Coach Quinn came under scrutiny as many felt Daniels should not have been on the playing surface in the first place. The injury occurred in the final period with the Commanders behind 38-7, rendering a recovery improbable. It is typical in such circumstances for teams to insert their backup quarterback to avoid harm to their starter.
“I understand. I’ve been thinking about it constantly, too, and, wow, I missed it,” Quinn said of his choice to leave Daniels in the game. “That is 100% my fault.”
Fallout and Squad Prospects
Mariota will be the team’s primary QB going forward, but he will guide a roster in turmoil. After reaching the conference title game last season behind the rookie’s brilliance, the team have faced difficulties this season. They also saw injuries to defensive back Lattimore (torn ACL) and pass-catcher Luke McCaffrey (broken collarbone) on game day, and have a number of other starters on injured reserve. The Washington squad are 3-6 on the season, and it would take a massive turnaround for the club to make the postseason.
