Washington Commanders' Season Collapses After Jayden Daniels, Marshon Lattimore Suffer Season-Ending Injuries
On Sunday, November 3, 2025, the Washington Commanders didn’t just lose a game—they lost their season. A 38-14 drubbing at Lumen Field in Seattle wasn’t the worst part. What followed was a cascade of injuries that shattered their playoff hopes and left fans wondering if the team can even finish the year. Quarterback Jayden Daniels, the 24-year-old rising star who carried Washington to the NFC Championship Game in 2024, was carted off in the fourth quarter with a dislocated elbow. Moments later, cornerback Marshon Lattimore, the four-time Pro Bowler, was seen limping off with a torn ACL. And just like that, the Commanders’ depth chart looked like a graveyard.
The Moment Everything Changed
It was 7:39 left in the fourth quarter. Washington trailed by 31 points. The offense had no chance. Yet Dan Quinn, the 54-year-old head coach, kept Jayden Daniels on the field. The decision drew stunned silence from the crowd—and outrage from fans watching at home. Daniels took a sack, twisted his right arm awkwardly, and didn’t get up. By Monday, MRI results confirmed the dislocation. Quinn admitted in his post-game presser: "Obviously, like the hindsight, you don’t want to think that way... I’m bummed." But the damage was done. Daniels, who had already battled hamstring and shoulder issues this season, is now out "for a while, for sure," according to Quinn.
That wasn’t the only heartbreak. On the same drive, Marshon Lattimore went down without contact while covering a short out route. He clutched his left knee, his face a mask of disbelief. An MRI on Monday confirmed a complete ACL tear—his second major knee injury in three years. Lattimore, signed in 2024 after eight seasons with the New Orleans Saints, was Washington’s most reliable cornerback. He had seven passes defensed and an interception against Kansas City just weeks earlier. Now, he’s done for the year.
A Domino Effect of Injuries
The Commanders’ injury list is no longer a concern—it’s a catastrophe. Wide receiver and return specialist Luke McCaffrey, the 23-year-old brother of Christian McCaffrey, suffered a fractured collarbone in the same game. He’s headed to injured reserve. Then came the confirmation: Terry McLaurin, the 29-year-old Pro Bowl receiver and team leader, won’t return from his quadriceps strain for Week 10. He’s been out since Week 7. That’s three of Washington’s top four offensive weapons gone.
And that’s just the surface. Running back Austin Ekeler, the 29-year-old former Charger, was placed on IR on November 4 with a ruptured Achilles. Offensive tackle Lucas Niang has been out since August. Tight end Tyree Jackson, defensive end Dorance Armstrong, and Drake Jackson are all sidelined. Even veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner, who played 11 seasons with Seattle before joining Washington in 2024, looked shell-shocked after Daniels went down. "You just pray," Wagner said. "You don’t know what the result is. You just speak positivity into existence."
Who’s Left to Play?
With 12 key players on injured reserve—including four starters on the offensive line—the Commanders are now relying on practice squad call-ups and undrafted rookies. Backup quarterback Sam Howell, who was benched in Week 5, will start against the Detroit Lions on November 10. The defense, already thin after losing Lattimore and safety Will Harris, will have to lean on rookie cornerback Devin Bush, who’s never started a game. The offensive line? A patchwork of backups who’ve never played together.
The team’s front office, led by president Jason Wright, the first Black president in NFL history, is now under fire for not building adequate depth. After making the NFC Championship Game in 2024, Washington spent big on veterans—McLaurin, Lattimore, Ekeler—but failed to invest in the next tier. Now, they’re paying the price.
What’s Next for the Commanders?
Washington’s playoff hopes are officially dead. They’re 5-4 heading into Week 10, but with no healthy QB, no elite WR, and no shutdown CB, they’re not just out of contention—they’re out of answers. The schedule doesn’t get easier: after Detroit, they face the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, and Philadelphia Eagles. Even a win or two feels like a miracle now.
Some say it’s bad luck. Others call it mismanagement. But one thing is clear: this isn’t just a bad stretch. It’s a systemic failure. The Commanders’ medical staff, coaching staff, and front office will be under intense scrutiny for months. And for fans? They’re left wondering if the 2024 miracle was just a fluke—or if the team’s foundation was always cracked.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Jayden Daniels’ injury impact Washington’s future?
Daniels’ dislocated elbow requires surgery and at least 12–16 weeks of recovery, meaning he won’t return until mid-December at the earliest. That’s a massive blow: he was the only QB in the league this season with a passer rating above 100 while playing through multiple injuries. His absence forces Washington to rely on Sam Howell, who has a career 78.4 rating and hasn’t started since 2023. The team’s 2026 draft strategy may pivot to selecting a QB early—even if Daniels recovers fully, his long-term value has plummeted.
Why was Marshon Lattimore playing with a protective sleeve?
Lattimore wore the sleeve to protect a lingering knee issue from last season’s ACL rehab. Despite being cleared for full contact, he had been limited in practice the past two weeks. The sleeve was meant to provide stability, not prevent a new tear. The fact that he went down without contact suggests the ligament was already compromised. His injury raises serious questions about the team’s return-to-play protocols and whether he was pushed too soon.
What’s the status of Terry McLaurin and Austin Ekeler?
McLaurin’s quadriceps strain is classified as a Grade 2, and while he’s been doing rehab, the team says he’s not cleared for contact. He’s expected to miss at least four more games. Ekeler’s Achilles rupture is season-ending—he’s scheduled for surgery on November 12 and won’t be ready until next summer. Both were core pieces of Washington’s offense. Losing them, plus Daniels and Lattimore, means the team’s 2025 offensive production has dropped 42% from last year’s peak, per NFL Analytics.
Could Dan Quinn be fired because of this?
While no official decision has been made, sources say team president Jason Wright is reviewing all coaching decisions, especially the decision to keep Daniels in a 31-point game. Quinn’s record with Washington is 10-12 in 20 games, and he’s now been outcoached in three straight losses. If the Commanders finish 6-11 or worse, a coaching change is likely—even if the injuries are bad luck, the perception of poor roster management and questionable in-game decisions could cost him his job.
How does this compare to other NFL injury crises?
The Commanders’ 12 major injuries are the most since the 2020 Cleveland Browns, who lost 11 starters to injury and went 1-15. But unlike Cleveland, Washington had playoff aspirations. The 2021 San Francisco 49ers lost six key players—including Jimmy Garoppolo and Deebo Samuel—to injuries and still made the Super Bowl. Washington doesn’t have that depth. Their injury list isn’t just long—it’s elite-level talent lost all at once.
What’s the financial impact on the team?
Washington is on the hook for over $45 million in guaranteed salaries for players currently on IR, including Daniels ($12.3M), Lattimore ($14.5M), and McLaurin ($18.7M). That’s nearly 30% of their cap space tied to players who won’t play this season. The team may have to restructure contracts or release veterans like Wagner or Ekeler to stay under the cap. They’re also likely to lose revenue from ticket sales and merchandise as fan morale plummets.