EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsHERTFORDSHIRE, England -- Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels said he doesn't have any concern about potentially reinjuring his dislocated left elbow once he returns to playing."That's what the brace is for," he said Thursday. "If I had that concern, I would have gotten surgery."Daniels was a limited participant in practice for the second consecutive day Thursday at the five-star luxury resort where the Commanders (1-2) are staying ahead of Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts (1-2).But it remains uncertain whether or not Daniels will play. If not, then Marcus Mariota will make a second consecutive start. When asked if he was surprised to even be back on the field so soon after a second dislocation, Daniels said, with a smile, "What do you think?"Then he said, "I'm not surprised. Everything I went through, everybody said I would be good to go if I'm able to be out there Sunday. But I'm taking it day by day."Daniels dislocated his left arm in a Week 2 loss at Dallas, the second time he suffered that injury to his non-throwing arm. He dislocated it in Week 9 last season, then aggravated it five weeks later at Minnesota. Washington decided to then shut him down for the rest of the season.After his latest injury, Daniels visited multiple specialists in New York and Los Angeles. Multiple experts in this field told ESPN that it's rare for someone to have surgery after a first dislocation because the rate of recurrence is between one to two percent. But the percentage shoots up after a second one -- depending on how much the ligaments loosened.But the specialists did not recommend surgery; Daniels also just wanted to play."I love playing football, I get paid to play football," Daniels said. "Everybody is hurting. I just feel for me being a leader, go out there and give it my shot to go out and play and obviously protect myself. I just love football and have a passion for it."Surgery could be an option after the season -- Daniels said he would listen to what doctors say at the time before making any decision. If he comes back Sunday or even the following week against the New York Giants, he would have returned quicker than he did the first time. However, he will be wearing a different brace -- one that keeps his elbow slightly bent to prevent another dislocation.Daniels said he's not worried about another dislocation or possible long-term damage."Obviously you have those conversations with people I need to have those conversations with. If the surgery was needed to be ASAP, then I've got to do what's best for me. We had those conversations. I was blessed enough to go back out there on the practice field ... I'm not really concerned at this moment."Daniels shook his head and said, "nope" five times when asked if the brace changes anything about his game, from handoffs to his throwing motion. Daniels has always kept his left elbow tucked to his side when throwing, as he did when warming up Tuesday and Wednesday -- so, too, does Mariota.Daniels did all the work the other quarterbacks did during the portion open to the media, from taking snaps from under center to footwork drills before throwing the ball. But he appeared to be himself, loose and upbeat.It beats how it appeared in Week 2 when he first was hurt on the final play of the first half -- a third-and-goal play in which a lineman stepped on his foot and caused him to stumble and brace himself with his left arm."Frustrated," Daniels said when asked how he felt. "I felt I was in my groove and rhythm and then that happened. Other than that, I was pretty chill."
