Washington Commanders star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels left his team’s game after their first drive with a rib injury and went to the locker room for an X-ray in the first quarter.
Daniels’ first play from scrimmage against the Carolina Panthers was a 46-yard dash where he was violently tackled and turned before coming to a stop.
Daniels felt uncomfortable for several minutes and returned from the locker room in street clothes to start the third quarter, marking the end of his day. Marcus Mariota has led the Commanders’ charge on every drive since.
Daniels appeared to be in no pain as he left the locker room and received loud cheers from the crowd at Northwest Stadium.
If there was ever a game where Daniels found himself in foul trouble, it’s against the 1-5 Carolina Panthers.
Commanding quarterback Jayden Daniels went to the locker room with a rib injury
Without perhaps the team’s most impactful player, Washington leads the Panthers 27-0 at halftime.
Daniels’ mother posted on X “He’s doing well” before further news 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 12 years to the rookie season of Robert Griffin III, who also shined as a dual-threat quarterback.
Griffin ultimately suffered a career-altering leg injury, with Washington fans not seeing a player with his level of success at the position until Daniels.
Griffin himself posted on social media, “For God’s sake, let Jayden Daniels be okay,” with a praying hands emoji.
The Commanders could rest Daniels ahead of a showcase game next week against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears, potentially pitting the top two picks in this year’s NFL Draft against each other.
