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He’s going to be out indefinitely, but the dislocated elbow Jayden Daniels suffered against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9 won’t be career-threatening for the franchise quarterback for the Washington Commanders. That’s according to a former NFL wide receiver who was a member of the Burgundy and Gold for five seasons and suffered the same injury. The voice of experience is provided by ex-Commanders wideout Leslie Shepherd. He admitted “It’s an excruciating pain injury for sure, but it’s also something you can pop back from…He can definitely recover and not have any long-term effects,” per JP Finlay of NBC4 Sports. Shepherd should know since he dislocated his left elbow against the Dallas Cowboys back in 1997. The pass-catcher made it back onto the field and played every game of the 1998 campaign, enjoying a career-best season in the process. That’s just the trajectory the Commanders hope Daniels can follow after his gruesome exit from the 38-14 defeat to the Seahawks. The chances of it happening look good after an independent medical assessment offered on social media suggested the injury to Daniels’ non-throwing arm may not even be a season-ender. Hope for Daniels making a full and speedy recovery is also key for a Commanders regime taking heat for leaving the star asset on the field too long. Commanders Need Jayden Daniels Boost Head coach Dan Quinn being content to take the blame for leaving Daniels in harm’s way isn’t making anyone forget about how the Commanders took an unnecessary risk at football’s most important position. In fact, Quinn keeping Daniels in a game that was already lost was only another part of the overall risk the Commanders have taken with the former Heisman Trophy winner. It’s a risk rooted in not surrounding their standout signal-caller with enough talent. General manager Adam Peters can’t be accused of selling Daniels short at key positions like wide receiver and left tackle. Not after offseason trades fetched All-Pro talents Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil at their respective positions. Where Peters is culpable is for not supporting last season’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with a credible running game, nor a tough enough defense. Cost-cutting measures have left the Commanders with journeymen at key spots like edge-rusher and safety, while seventh-round rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt has been expected to carry the rushing attack. The decisions not to spend big from a substantial pot during free agency have hurt the Commanders and Daniels. So has Peters standing still during trade deadline day on Tuesday, November 4. Yet, for all the mistakes made by members of the front office, Daniels and the Commanders have still mostly been undone by injuries. Particularly at Shepherd’s old position. Commanders Must Make WR Help a Priority Peters has to make finding younger, more athletic playmakers for Daniels’ receiver corps a priority next offseason. It’s how No. 5 can bounce back in style from the injury, the way Shepherd did when he snared 43 receptions for 712 yards and eight touchdowns in ’98, all career-highs, according to Pro Football Reference. Those stats were made possible because Shepherd was part of a loaded receiver room also featuring Michael Westbrook, Albert Connell, James Thrash and the great Henry Ellard. Today’s Commanders aren’t anywhere close to as blessed at the position. Not when main target Terry McLaurin hasn’t been able to stay healthy after Peters caved to his contract demands. Losing second-year pro Luke McCaffrey on the opening kickoff against the Seahawks was another blow to the supporting cast around Daniels. McCaffrey’s shoulder problem is compounded by this year’s fourth-round pick Jaylin Lane still struggling to make the grade. Young players not stepping up, while 30-year-old McLaurin isn’t around to support 29-year-old Samuel, means the Commanders must address their receiver depth chart in a major way after the season. Or else Daniels’ anticipated recovery will count for naught.
