LANDOVER, Md. – Jayden Daniels’ left rib injury cast a shadow over the Washington Commanders’ dominant 40-7 victory against the Carolina Panthers.
The atmosphere was celebratory at Northwest Stadium as the Commanders honored Hall of Famer Darrell Green by retiring his number during halftime. The game started with a bang when Commanders linebacker Dante Fowler scored a pick-6 in the opening quarter, followed by Daniels’ impressive 46-yard run on Washington’s first offensive play.
The Commanders quickly took a 10-0 lead, but the joyful momentum shifted when Daniels was seen entering the medical blue tent and later was escorted to the locker room visibly in pain during the first quarter.
Initially, the team indicated that Daniels was questionable to return, but by the third quarter, he was officially ruled out.
“It’s about compartmentalizing that for the moment,” said Commanders center Tyler Biadasz. “It happened early, and we had to keep spirits high and move forward, hoping for the best.”
Coach Dan Quinn stated that Daniels would undergo additional tests on Monday to assess the severity of the injury.
In Daniels’ absence, veteran Marcus Mariota stepped in and performed well, completing 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns against the struggling Panthers.
“Not a good feeling, but we were prepared to adjust,” said Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. “Marcus came in and did everything he needed to do. It felt like Jayden wasn’t even missed. We hope to have him back soon, but I’m glad everyone was ready to adapt.”
Mariota reassured fans postgame, stating, “He was in good spirits. We’re just checking on him day by day.”
With 74 starts in his decade-long career, Mariota is considered a capable backup who can manage the game effectively. Although his playstyle may not match Daniels’ explosiveness, he maintained the Commanders’ offensive rhythm, leading them to score 30 points while Daniels was sidelined.
“The key is executing the game plan; nothing changed drastically for us,” Mariota explained. “Quarterbacks continuously discuss game scenarios and strategies, so we know what to expect.”
Facing the 1-6 Panthers did not provide the Commanders with a true test in Daniels’ absence, and they cannot afford to lose him for an extended period if they aim to contend in the NFC East.
The team remains hopeful that Daniels’ medical tests will return positive news. Encouragingly, he was spotted on the sidelines in the second half, wearing sweats and smiling, further indicating his upbeat spirits as he leads the race for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.