Man, you gotta feel for Washington after what went down Sunday. They rolled into Dallas already at 0-1, needing a rebound after that brutal Eagles loss. Instead, they got absolutely clobbered 37-20 by the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium, sinking to a nightmare 0-2 overall and 0-2 in the division. But honestly, the score isn’t even the worst part. Their franchise quarterback, Jayden Daniels, went down with a significant elbow injury right before halftime, and the whole vibe of their year just shifted. It’s a total gut punch.
Daniels Goes Down Hard, and Washington’s Offense Goes With Him
Seriously, watching Daniels play in that first half, he was absolutely electric. He was 11-for-17 for 96 yards and a touchdown passing, and racked up 69 yards on seven carries. The guy was making plays, showing off that accuracy and elusiveness that makes him so special, and the offense was humming. Then, on the last play of the first half, BAM. Disaster strikes. Guard Chris Paul apparently stepped on him right after the snap, sending Daniels sprawling. He tried to brace himself, but it was ugly. A gruesome elbow injury took him out of the game. This isn’t just a day or two thing. This kind of injury means he’s highly likely to miss way more games, maybe a huge chunk of the season. They struggled without him in 2025 when he dealt with multiple injuries, including a dislocated left elbow similar to this one. Marcus Mariota’s a capable backup, but Daniels is on a whole different level. Losing that dynamic playmaking, that unique No. 5 swagger, makes Washington a completely different team. This injury will have an irrevocable impact on their season, and it’s barely even started!
When It Rains, It Pours: More Injuries and Missed Opportunities
And if Daniels going down wasn’t enough, the hits just kept on coming. Right guard Sam Cosmi, left tackle Brandon Coleman, and defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw all went down with injuries and never returned. That’s three more starters in a single afternoon! It’s like the universe just decided to throw everything it had at them. Consider how Daniels actually got hurt: they were one yard from the end zone with three seconds left in the first half, trying to punch it in. They failed to score, leaving that scenario without a point AND their star QB injured. Just a complete nightmare. Then, to start the second half, Mariota pushed the ball down the field, finding Dyami Brown with what looked like an excellent deep shot to the end zone. The play was ruled incomplete, and the Commanders challenged it, because it sure looked like a touchdown! But it didn’t matter. When things are going this sideways, you just can’t catch a break.
So, yeah. Washington’s sitting at 0-2, totally bruised and battered, staring down the barrel of a season without their electric QB, and with key starters dropping like flies. It’s an uphill battle from here, no doubt. They’re going to have to find a way to stay competitive and somehow keep this thing from spiraling completely out of control. Man, what a brutal start to the season. You just hate to see it.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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