Commanders HC Dan Quinn addresses keeping Jayden Daniels in blowout before devastating injury

Things went from bad to worse for the Washington Commanders during their "Sunday Night Football" game versus the Seattle Seahawks when Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a gruesome dislocated left elbow in the contest's fourth quarter. 

The Commanders were trailing 38-7 when Daniels went down with what could become a season-ending setback. Understandably, Washington head coach Dan Quinn was asked following the club's 38-14 defeat that dropped it to 3-6 if he regretted not turning to backup Marcus Mariota ahead of that campaign-altering offensive drive. 

Why Dan Quinn didn't play Marcus Mariota before Jayden Daniels injury

"Yeah, not in that space," Quinn said about not sitting Daniels when the game was out of reach, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic. "Obviously, the hindsight, you don’t want to think that way where an injury could take place. We were more conservative in that spot to run and hand off and not have reads to go. But just the end result, obviously, I’m bummed."

Mariota previously went 1-2 over three starts when Daniels was sidelined due to injuries this season. Most recently, Daniels missed Washington's Week 8 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs with a right hamstring issue.

As of Monday morning, a healthy Mariota was atop the Commanders' depth chart. Washington could look to add a signal-caller to its roster before the trade deadline arrives at 4:00 p.m. ET this coming Tuesday. 

"I’m just gutted by it," Quinn added about Daniels' serious injury. "I’m just bummed. We have read plays on it, and the one he was injured on is usually a runner or a throw to the flat. It’s not a scramble. It wasn’t a designed read or play into that spot. If we run it 50 times, it’s usually a handoff or a throw, I’d say, 50 times. It’s a bummer, man. In a big way."

What Commanders will hope to get right with Jayden Daniels after horrific injury

According to Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk, Quinn was asked after Sunday's loss if the Commanders will need to do anything differently to keep Daniels in the lineup for more than a handful of games. Unless Washington goes on a surprising run without the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, he likely will make only six starts during his second pro season. 

"I think the answer to that is we will give him the support to do that," Quinn said about Daniels. "I am certain of that — to make sure we do that in every single way. That’s calls, offense, defense — the whole way through, man. I absolutely feel that way. The hamstring injury and tonight with an elbow — yeah, it’s really important we get that part right. And we will."

The Daniels-less Commanders next host the Detroit Lions (5-3) on Nov. 9. As of Monday morning, ESPN BET had Washington as a 3.5-point home underdog for that Sunday afternoon showdown.