Washington Commanders star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels left his team’s game after its first series with a rib injury, and went to the locker room for an X-ray during the first quarter.
Daniels’ first play from scrimmage against the Carolina Panthers was a 46-yard run where he was violently tackled and flipped before stopping.
Daniels was seen in discomfort for several minutes and has not returned to the game, being marked as questionable for the rest of the contest.
Marcus Mariota has led the Commanders’ offense on every drive since.
If there was ever a game where Daniels could get banged up, it’s against the Carolina Panthers (1-5).
Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels headed to the locker room with a rib injury.
Without the team’s most influential player, Washington leads the Panthers 27-0 at halftime.
Daniels’ mother posted on X “Okay” before more information about Daniels’ condition was made public.
Trainers were seen massaging Daniels’ ribs before he entered Washington’s medical tent and eventually the locker room.
The doomsday scenario for Commanders fans goes back a dozen years, to the rookie season of Robert Griffin III, who also dazzled as a dual-threat quarterback.
Griffin eventually suffered a career-altering leg injury, and Washington fans did not see a player with his level of success at the position again until Daniels.
Griffin himself posted on social media, “For the love of God, please let Jayden Daniels be okay,” with a praying hands emoji.
The Commanders could rest Daniels before an exhibition matchup next week against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears, possibly featuring the top two picks in this year’s NFL Draft facing each other.
