Why isn’t Jayden Daniels playing for the Commanders in the Madrid Game vs the Dolphins?

When it was confirmed that the Washington Commanders would face the Miami Dolphins this Sunday in Madrid, the news was met with excitement in Spain: a rising franchise was coming, one that reached the conference finals last season and featured one of the NFL’s biggest sensations - one of the most electrifying players you could hope to see live. Jayden Daniels, the Commanders’ quarterback, burst onto the scene with devastating force in 2024, and in his rookie year he carried his team to within one win of a Super Bowl berth. Fans were eager to see Daniels in Madrid. But that won’t happen, thanks to an injury that robs the Bernabéu showdown of its biggest on-field attraction.

What injury does Daniels have?

In Week 9 against the Seahawks, the 24-year-old quarterback - last season’s Offensive Rookie of the Year - was tackled and landed awkwardly on his arm, suffering a gruesome dislocation of his left elbow. The diagnosis made it clear he wouldn’t suit up in Madrid, and now he won’t even make the trip. Washington announced just before takeoff that their star would remain home to continue his recovery. The silver lining? Later tests ruled out major ligament damage, meaning Daniels is expected back before season’s end.

It’s a major blow for the game, and his absence adds to a growing list of stars sidelined: Tyreek Hill, Miami’s elite wideout, went down with a serious knee injury early in the season, while Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne is suspended for one game after throwing a punch at an opponent last weekend. Daniels’ absence - he’s already missed significant time this year, appearing in just six games - helps explain Washington’s 3-7 record, including five straight losses. His impact is undeniable: a dynamic arm paired with the ability to take off and run, flashing top-end speed that few quarterbacks possess.

Who is at QB in Daniels’ place?

Daniels’ injury is “100 percent on me,” admitted head coach Dan Quinn, taking responsibility for leaving the quarterback in the game when the outcome was already decided. “He’s a great player,” Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa said this week when asked about his counterpart’s absence. In Daniels’ place, veteran Marcus Mariota will start under center for Washington. At 32, Mariota is far removed from the player who dazzled at Oregon and earned the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, never quite living up to expectations in the NFL. The Commanders will miss Jayden - no question about it.

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