Commanders blow out Panthers, but Daniels leaves early with rib injury

The Washington Commanders’ excitement over a 40-7 blowout win over the Carolina Panthers on Sunday was dampened by concerns about an injury that forced star rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to the sidelines.

The dual-threat signal-caller left the game with a rib injury in the first quarter and did not return.

“I think he was in good spirits,” backup quarterback Marcus Mariota said after the game. Coach Dan Quinn noted that he didn’t have an update about Daniels’ health, but the rookie will undergo further testing on Monday. 

“He’s fine,” Daniels’ mother wrote on X in an attempt to assuage fans’ concerns. 

Still, he wasn’t fine enough to take the field. Before getting hurt, Daniels ran for 50 yards and threw for six more in the opening drive.

Though their quarterback’s health will be the top priority, there was nothing for Commanders supporters to worry about on the field.

Washington jumped out to a 37-0 lead, putting the game out of reach by the time the fourth quarter began.

The 5-2 Commanders’ up-and-down defense had its best performance of the season, starting with a 67-yard interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Dante Fowler in the first quarter.

“That really got us jumpstarted,” wide receiver Terry McLaurin said, jokingly praising Fowler’s ball-handling. “We knew we wanted to have a fast start coming out today.”

Fowler added a sack and a key tackle for loss to complete his career day.

It only got better from there for coach Quinn’s unit. Cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr., the underwhelming second-year player who has struggled to earn playing time, recorded his first interception of the season later in the first quarter.

With Daniels in the locker room, the Commanders turned to their run game. Halfback Brian Robinson Jr. carried the ball on four consecutive plays after the Forbes interception, adding 30 yards and a touchdown.

He would finish with 71 rushing yards after missing Washington’s previous game with a knee injury.

“It was big,” Quinn said about Robinson’s return. “You feel his strength, and the pile moves forward.”

Washington’s offense managed to maintain its efficiency without Daniels. Backup quarterback Marcus Mariota led them on six scoring drives, including a 92-yard touchdown drive as time ticked down in the first half to take a commanding 27-0 lead into halftime.

Mariota threw for 205 yards and two touchdowns in the relief effort. He added another 34 yards on the ground.

After bouncing around the NFL in recent years and starting the 2024 season on injured reserve, Mariota had fun on Sunday. The journeyman took hits in the open field, evaded pass rushers, juked defenders and attempted deep passes downfield. 

“You grow up playing the game because it’s fun. It’s just kind of been like this for me,” he said. “So, just to go out there and play and have fun was so refreshing for me.”

Carolina’s offense was not having fun.

Led by journeyman quarterback Andy Dalton, the visitors couldn’t find a rhythm on Sunday. The Panthers’ passer threw for just 93 yards, tossing two interceptions in the process.

Quarterback Bryce Young, the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft, faced similar struggles during his lone possession in the fourth quarter. He lost 4 yards on his two pass attempts.

The running game didn’t fare much better against a Commanders’ front carried by linebackers Fowler and Frankie Luvu.

“[Fowler] definitely stepped up today, man. He’s always the guy in practice running around,” Luvu said of his fellow linebacker. “So, what you see on gameday, that’s him.”

The Panthers’ offense ran for 95 yards, but 26 of those yards came on a sweep by running back Miles Sanders on the third play of the game.

Washington’s defensive dominance, combined with the offense’s usual efficiency, was too much for the 1-6 Panthers.

Carolina running back Chuba Hubbard added a four-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter, but it was too late for any concerted comeback attempt. Hubbard finished with 52 yards on 17 carries, his lowest output since Week 1.

Sunday’s victory, the fifth for a Commanders squad that won just four games last season, places Washington firmly atop the NFC East through seven weeks. But Mariota said the squad isn’t thinking about a division title just yet. 

“We’re just trying to get better every single day; that’s all we can control,” the backup quarterback said. “Focus on that; just keep stacking these days. When we pick our heads up in January, I think we’ll like where we’re at.”

The Commanders return to Northwest Stadium on Sunday for a matchup with the Chicago Bears and quarterback Caleb Williams, the top pick in this year’s draft.