Why Commanders' Jayden Daniels is avoiding surgery on his elbow

The Washington Commanders got a major injury scare in Week 2, when Jayden Daniels clearly sustained a left elbow injury, which was confirmed to be a left elbow dislocation after the game.

Surgery is an option for Daniels, but he got multiple second opinions, and is opting to not undergo surgery as he tries to work his way back. Week 3 and likely Week 4 will be without Daniels, but Week 5 or 6 could be in play.

But why is he avoiding having surgery on his non-throwing elbow? Well, as The Athletic's Jonathan Jones notes, if he did have surgery, it would be season-ending.

Why Jayden Daniels is avoiding elbow surgery

"Surgery would knock Daniels out for the rest of the season," Jones writes. "It is possible, depending on how the rest of the year unfolds, that Daniels has surgery after the season and is fully prepared for the 2027 season.

With surgery likely ending Daniels' 2026 season, it's not an option for the young Commanders quarterback after his 2025 season was already lost.

After the 2026 season comes to a close, Daniels will have the option to have surgery on his elbow, though by then his recovery might be at a point where they can continue to wait for him to be fully healthy for the 2027 season.

It is only Week 2 when the injury occurred, so he could go a full year before needing to be at full strength for the Commanders. That might be enough time to warrant avoiding surgery, so long as his left elbow injury doesn't get any worse.

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But that's a risk Daniels is willing to take. This isn't exactly a contract year, but considering he'll finally be extension-eligible after the 2026 season, putting on a good showing this year would be massive for his financial future.

Taking a risk by avoiding surgery, which would likely end his season and put any real extension talks on hold for at least the entire 2027 NFL season, is something he's trying to avoid.

Obviously, this situation isn't ideal for the Commanders or Daniels. But his decision to avoid surgery is one that makes sense. It would end his 2026 season if he had it, according to Jones.

Considering he's seemingly going to be good to go in a few weeks, surgery to end his 2026 campaign might be jumping the gun a bit with his left elbow injury.

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