Jayden Daniels to Return Within a Month, Commanders Rule Out Surgery for Dislocated Elbow
General Manager Adam Peters announced quarterback Jayden Daniels will avoid surgery and is expected back on the field within four weeks.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is expected to return to play within a month, as surgery has been ruled out for the dislocated left elbow he suffered recently, according to General Manager Adam Peters.
Peters stated that Daniels consulted with doctors nationwide and received multiple opinions. "As of right now, surgery is not on the table and we haven’t discussed IR," Peters said Friday morning during his weekly appearance on 1067 The Fan.
The timeline suggests Daniels could miss up to four games. If the expected recovery period were longer, the team would have considered placing him on injured reserve.
While some medical advice indicated season-ending surgery, Daniels also received opinions that he could play effectively with rest and treatment. This marks a potentially familiar situation for the Commanders, as Daniels dislocated the same elbow last season. At that time, he opted against surgery, and the injury ultimately ended his 2025 season after a re-injury upon his return.
The recent injury occurred when Daniels stumbled while pulling away from center and landed awkwardly on the turf, causing the elbow to dislocate. X-rays revealed no fracture, but Daniels was sidelined for the game against the Dallas Cowboys. Veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota is expected to start for the Commanders in Daniels' absence.