Jayden Daniels to Undergo Surgery After Avoiding Severe Elbow Injury

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is slated to undergo elbow surgery, though the procedure will be postponed until after the current NFL season concludes. This decision allows Daniels to continue playing with his team despite an ongoing elbow issue that has persisted for approximately a year.

Daniels dislocated his elbow at the end of the 2025 season and experienced the same injury again during the second quarter of the Commanders' Week 2 game against the Dallas Cowboys. The recurrence of the injury led to backup quarterback Marcus Mariota taking over and starting in Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks.

Medical evaluations have confirmed that Daniels did not sustain any fractures or significant ligament damage in his elbow. General Manager Adam Peters stated that surgery is not being considered at this immediate time.

While this recent dislocation was not as severe as initially feared, Daniels is unlikely to participate in the Commanders' Week 4 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts in London. He did, however, travel with the team and participate in practice leading up to the game.

ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter reported on the “Adam Schefter Podcast” that Marcus Mariota is expected to start in Daniels' place for the London game. Mariota performed well in his first start of the season, leading the Commanders to a 33-31 victory over the Seahawks by completing 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns.

Daniels has missed 12 of a possible 19 starts since his rookie season. The Commanders have a 4-7 record in games without Daniels, with their passing offense averaging 158 yards per game compared to 195 yards when he plays. The team is aiming for their first 3-1 start since the 2024 season.