The Commanders are 0-2 and already dealing with another injury to their franchise quarterback

The Washington Commanders are again living a nightmare.

It took just two games for franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels to go down with another significant injury. He dislocated his elbow when he tried to brace himself while stumbling during Sunday’s 37-20 loss at Dallas. The same injury occurred last November and kept Daniels out a month before he tried to play again and aggravated it.

On Monday, coach Dan Quinn announced that Marcus Mariota will start at quarterback this weekend against Seattle. He also ominously said Daniels will see specialists later this week. The injury is to the third-year quarterback’s non-throwing arm, but it does nobody any good if Daniels is risking a gruesome dislocation any time he tries to use it to stay upright.

So now Washington has started 0-2, faces the defending Super Bowl champions this week and might be without its star quarterback for a while. The season is teetering before the Commanders even play their home opener Sunday.

“Not where we wanted to be, that’s for sure. But we also are resolute that that’s not where we’re going to be staying. And we had our chances in both games and both moments to not be in that spot,” Quinn said. “So, I would say, certainly hurting for Jay and some of the other guys who were banged up, but also there’s a lot of resolve with this group of knowing that, ‘Hey, man, like, these are the things we have to get done together and we have enough in the room.’”

Washington had areas of concern entering this season even with Daniels healthy. Now the Commanders turn to Mariota, who has had some good moments as a backup but now has to try and keep the offense moving behind a poor offensive line.

Meanwhile, the fluky nature of this injury — Daniels was falling because he took a snap under center and his foot was stepped on by an offensive lineman — has to have Washington fans beside themselves. They already saw Robert Griffin III have a great rookie season, then struggle to stay healthy. Now Daniels has been unable to build on his incredible 2024 season, battling injuries ever since.

“The freak ones like this, it’s hard to explain, honestly, as it’s going,” Quinn said. “I loved everything about the first half, how he was playing and what we did. So, I haven’t gone there to think about it, but obviously, total surprise to see it.”

What’s working

Stefon Diggs continues to look solid in his first season in Washington. He had two touchdown catches against the Cowboys.

What needs work

Washington will have to adjust its offense with a new quarterback. Mariota has some mobility but isn’t the dynamic pass/run threat Daniels is.

“I think the biggest thing is, all right, what do you want to feature with Marcus that you didn’t with Jayden?” Quinn said. “It won’t be exactly the same, but fortunately, they’ll have a lot of similarities.”

Stock up

Rachaad White had 43 yards on seven carries and six catches for 40 yards against Dallas.

Stock down

The defense showed some positive signs in a Week 1 loss to Philadelphia, but the Cowboys scored on seven of their eight possessions against Washington.

Injuries

Quinn said S Nick Cross was evaluated after the game with “an internal injury” and was flying back Monday after staying overnight in Texas.

“I won’t get into specifics,” Quinn said. “I was glad he was discharged and on the way back here.”

OL Brandon Coleman had a finger injury and is expected to practice this week. DT Javon Kinlaw (shoulder) will be limited, and G Sam Cosmi is in the concussion protocol, adding to the offensive line’s problems.

Key numbers

The Commanders went 3-7 without Daniels last season.

Next steps

Washington hosts Seattle, which beat the Commanders 38-14 last year.

___

See AP’s full NFL coverage here