Marshawn Lynch offers blunt recovery advice to injured Commanders QB Jayden Daniels
The short version
- Jayden Daniels dislocated his elbow in Week 2 against Dallas and will miss time, but surgery is not expected.
- Marshawn Lynch gave joking, explicit advice on the Get Got podcast about Daniels becoming ambidextrous.
- Marcus Mariota, in his third season with Washington, takes over at quarterback after relieving Daniels.
- Daniels had thrown three touchdowns with no turnovers before the injury, following a rookie year with over 4,000 scrimmage yards.
The former running back joked on a podcast that Daniels should practice using his non-throwing hand while recovering from a dislocated elbow suffered in Week 2.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is facing an extended absence after dislocating his elbow, but former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch has an unconventional suggestion for how he should spend his recovery time.
Speaking on the Get Got podcast, Lynch and co-host Michael Robinson were discussing the recent injuries to Daniels and Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams when Lynch offered some off-color guidance. Lynch said Daniels should become, in his words, ambidextrous in his private habits, using explicit language to make the point. The exchange, posted by the podcast on September 24, quickly drew attention on social media.
Whether Daniels takes any of the advice seriously is another matter entirely. The second-year quarterback is far more likely to follow the direction of the Commanders' medical staff as he works his way back from the injury.
Daniels was hurt during Washington's Week 2 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The injury occurred just before halftime, when Daniels tripped and dislocated his elbow while trying to break his fall. He left the game and did not return.
The prognosis appears relatively favorable. Daniels is expected to miss time, but reports indicate he will not need surgery to repair the elbow, which leaves open the possibility of a return before the end of the season.
In the meantime, the offense belongs to Marcus Mariota. The veteran, selected second overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, stepped in after Daniels went down against Dallas and threw for 111 yards and a touchdown. Mariota is in his third season with the Commanders and has ample recent experience leading the team, having appeared in 11 games with eight starts in 2025 while Daniels dealt with injuries.
The timing is frustrating for a player who had opened the season in strong form. Daniels threw three touchdowns without a turnover before going down, bouncing back from what was considered a down second NFL season. As a rookie, he amassed more than 4,000 scrimmage yards and accounted for 31 touchdowns — 25 passing and six rushing — while leading Washington to the NFC Championship Game, where the Commanders fell to the eventual champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The Commanders' next game comes with Daniels sidelined and Mariota at the controls.
Washington hosts the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, September 27 at 1:00 PM EDT at Northwest Stadium. The game airs on FOX.
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