Commanders say clip didn't reflect team response to Daniels injury

ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Commanders players rejected the notion that they didn't care about Jayden Daniels as he was being tended to by athletic trainers after dislocating his left elbow Sunday.

A short video clip from the Fox broadcast showed a number of Commanders players walking past Daniels as he was being helped by medical personnel.

It led to multiple posts on social media, as well as analysts weighing in, comparing the scene to New York Giants players gathering around quarterback Jaxson Dart after he injured his knee Monday night against the Los Angeles Rams. 

"It's bulls--- what people are saying," Washington left tackle Brandon Coleman said. "Jay's our guy and he's been our guy. There's no malice behind it."

Daniels' injury happened on the last play of the first half, which led to confusion by the players about what they could do or how long they could linger.

Though the camera showed them walking past Daniels, almost all waited on the sideline and watched from there. A number of them then returned to Daniels' side after trainers had popped his dislocated elbow back into place.

But Washington coach Dan Quinn said, "When the half is over, the referees are saying, 'Man, I can't delay the half. They can't stay on the field.' The players were like, 'No, we want to stay.'

"So it's just the opposite of that. They were gutted. They love this guy. So halftime was hard and emotional in that space."

An NFL halftime lasts 13 minutes. One player said Quinn told the players to return to the locker room. Another player, who remained on the sideline, said an official told him they had only eight more minutes remaining so they'd better head inside.

Daniels had his foot stepped on while pulling away from under center, causing him to lose his balance. He tried to steady himself with his left arm as he fell backward, causing it to dislocate. After the play, he stayed on the ground as some players gathered around him.

Center Nick Allegretti said after the game that he had called for trainers. Daniels then started to run off, with his left arm clutched to his side. He then went back to the ground as some players paused, saw the trainers coming out to the field and continued walking.

"We stayed on the field and once they got it situated and did what they had to do we checked on him," Coleman said. "Dan told most [players] to go into the locker room. But it's tough to go in when you see something like that. You see the whole starting line out there, a bunch of receivers, some defensive guys."

A number of players indeed were seen standing around Daniels -- as Coleman said there were offensive linemen, defensive linemen, defensive backs, receivers and running backs. Linebackers were seen exiting as well as Daniels' cart drove away. Coleman and fellow lineman Josh Conerly Jr., were among the last two to leave, along with Quinn and backup quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Athan Kaliakmanis.

"We know we had to get back in the locker room," receiver Terry McLaurin said after the game, "but no one wanted to leave. That's our brother."

Some acknowledged the initial optics looked a certain way, with players such as Conerly, running back Rachaad White, tight end Ben Sinnott and guard Sam Cosmi walking off the field as Mariota headed to Daniels. White later acknowledged he had tears in his eyes as he waited on the field.

"All that stuff is ridiculous," Sinnott said. "As far as the love and brotherhood we have for Jayden, it's really strong. We've seen how hard he worked to get to where he's been.

"It was a weird situation, people were trying to figure out what's going on and they wanted to give the trainers space to do it. You don't want to crowd the guy. Obviously guys are taking a step back and giving him space, praying, and we all came back.

"All that stuff is nonsense."

When Daniels was hurt last season, it occurred late in the fourth quarter of a loss to Seattle. Almost the entire sideline emptied to surround Daniels after trainers tended to him.

"That's the franchise right there," Conerly said. "I definitely felt some type of way about it. For people to say we don't care it kind of hurts because there's a lot of care.

"But I don't care what anyone says on the outside. We all care for our quarterback and we're all behind him on that moment. You can't go off a simple 10-second clip."