NFL Week 9 Injury Jayden Daniels Elbow Dislocation

How Did Jayden Daniels Get Hurt? 

During the Washington Commanders week 9 loss against the Seattle Seahawks, Jayden Daniels took a hard sack late in the 4th quarter. He was tackled from behind and landed awkwardly on his left arm/elbow. The team confirmed he walked off the field under his own power, but the arm was immobilized for transport.  

Specifically: 

• The play occurred with less than eight minutes remaining, with his team already trailing significantly.  

• The way he landed resulted in a forced extension/abduction of the elbow joint—classic mechanism for an elbow dislocation. 

• Prior to this, Jayden had missed time this season due to a left knee sprain and a hamstring strain, so this isn’t his first major injury this year.  

In simpler terms for a patient: think of your elbow being forced past its normal range of motion due to a sudden trauma. The “hinge” opens or shifts in a way it isn’t designed to, causing the joint surfaces to separate (dislocate) and stressing surrounding ligaments, soft tissue and bone. 

Diagnosis & MRI results 

Thanks to the MRI and subsequent imaging, we have a clearer status of his injury: 

• X-rays were negative for fractures — good news.  

• The MRI results did not show any major ligament damage or associated fractures, meaning this is classified as what many would call a “simple” dislocation rather than one with multiple complicating injuries.  

• However — and this is important — despite the favorable findings, his elbow still needs a protected, graduated rehabilitation. His team has stated that there is “no timetable” yet for return, because full functional readiness (especially for his level of play) needs to be achieved.  

In physical therapy terms: this is a very positive setup because no fracture and no major ligament tear typically mean fewer barriers to rehab. But the fact that he’s a high-demand athlete means the rehab must cover not only basic recovery but high-force, contact, and skill-specific return. 

Treatment plan 

Although Jayden has top-level sports medical staff, many of the rehab principles apply to the outpatient setting too. Here’s a breakdown: 

1. Immediate/post-dislocation phase

• The elbow is reduced (put back in alignment) and initially immobilized or braced to allow initial healing and reduce inflammation. 

• Focus during this period: controlling pain and swelling, protecting the joint, maintaining mobility above and below the elbow (shoulder, wrist) so those don’t stiffen. 

• For a simple dislocation: often 1-3 weeks of bracing/immobilization is typical, followed by motion. (In high-level athletes, the timeline may be tighter but must still respect biology.) 

2. Early motion phase

• Once swelling is down and the joint is stable, controlled, pain-free motion is started: elbow flexion/extension (bending/straightening), forearm supination/pronation (turning palm up/down). 

• Early motion is important in the elbow to prevent stiffness (which is common with elbow injuries). 

• Simultaneously, adjacent joints (shoulder, wrist, core/trunk) are maintained and strengthened to preserve the kinetic chain. 

3. Strengthening & functional phase

• After motion is reasonably restored and the joint is stable, strength training begins: biceps, triceps, forearm muscles, rotator cuff and scapular stabilizers (since the shoulder and arm will support the elbow). 

• Functional tasks: for Jayden this means throwing mechanics, resisting contact, trunk rotation, agility and speed in his sport. For a typical patient: tasks might be overhead reaching, lifting objects, rotational tasks, sports/work specific movements. 

4. Return-to-sport / high-demand phase

• For an athlete, this involves full practice simulations, contact drills, high-velocity arm movements, decision-making under fatigue. For a patient, this might be returning to full job duties, overhead tasks, sports. 

• Clearance criteria typically include: near-normal range of motion (often >90% of the uninjured side), strength near equal, pain-free high-level functional tasks, confidence in the joint. 

In Jayden’s case: since no major fractures or ligament tears, he is in a very favorable bracket for rehab — but still will need time, particularly because his elbow must tolerate hits, extreme torque, and high-speed arm movements. 

Prognosis 

Here’s what we can say given his current status, and what it means for you or your patients in similar scenarios: 

• Because his MRI showed no fractures or ligament damage, the prognosis is good for returning to full function. This is consistent with favorable outcomes in “simple” elbow dislocations.  

• That said: there is no formal return date yet for him. His team is being cautious.  

• For a non-athlete patient: if you sustain a simple elbow dislocation and follow an appropriate rehab program, you could expect many daily activities to return within 6–8 weeks, but full high-demand return (heavy lifting, overhead sport) may take 3–4 months or more depending on individual factors. 

• Risks to watch for: elbow stiffness (range of motion loss), residual instability (if soft tissues didn’t heal well), recurrent dislocation (though less common), and for high‐impact sports especially, possible cartilage damage or early arthritis long‐term. 

• In Jayden’s scenario: good signs — but because of his high demands (NFL quarterback), the threshold for return is higher and risk tolerance lower. The fact he’s “out indefinitely” shows the team will only clear him once the elbow meets all functional metrics. 

Key take-aways for patients 

• A dislocated joint doesn’t always mean a fracture — and when imaging is favorable (no fracture, no major ligament tear), the recovery outlook improves. 

• Early motion + progressive strengthening + functional task training = the pathway to recovery. Skipping phases or rushing can prolong recovery or cause complications. 

• Even when imaging is good → the real test is functional readiness. Range, strength, control, confidence matter. 

• Just because someone like Jayden is medically “clear” for rehab doesn’t mean they are “clear” for full return to demanding activity — the same principle applies in outpatient rehab: returning to full job/sport must be measured and controlled. 

• Regular follow‐ups, monitoring for stiffness, pain, strength asymmetry, and functional deficits help ensure the joint recovers well.