LANDOVER, Md. – Jayden Daniels’ left rib injury overshadowed the Washington Commanders’ 40-7 blowout win over the Carolina Panthers.
The mood was joyous at Northwest Stadium as the Commanders took the field on a day when the franchise retired Hall of Famer Darrell Green’s number at halftime. Commanders linebacker Dante Fowler had a pick-6 to get things started in the opening quarter. Then Daniels raced down the field for a 46-yard run on Washington’s very first offensive snap.
The Commanders jumped out to a 10-0 lead. However, Washington’s hot start quickly became an afterthought when Daniels checked into the medical blue tent and subsequently escorted to the locker room during the first quarter in obvious discomfort.
The Commanders initially announced Daniels was questionable to return in the first half, but he was later downgraded to out in the third quarter.
“You got to compartmentalize that for the moment and for the moments throughout the whole game. Obviously, it happened in the first quarter,” Commanders center Tyler Biadasz said. “Get through it and keep it in great spirits and hope everything’s okay, and keep on moving on.”