An injured star QB could play soon. Does that mean it's worth it?

With playoff hopes slipping away for the Commanders and Bengals, questions are raised about why their oft-injured star quarterbacks could still see the field.

The game’s outcome had effectively been determined when star Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels trotted out for another possession with 12 minutes remaining on Nov. 2.

Down 31 points to Seattle, Washington chose to keep Daniels, last season’s NFL offensive rookie of the year and the franchise’s cornerstone, in the game rather than sit him to avoid the risk of injury. Ten plays later, Daniels fell awkwardly on the elbow of his left, nonthrowing arm, dislocating it.

The drumbeat began as soon as Daniels started writhing on the turf. Sure, he was healthy. But why was he still in the game?

Less than a month later, the Commanders’ season now appears to be a lost cause. With their 3-8 record and less than a 1% chance of making the playoffs, according to one analysis, there’s a new question in Washington. Though Daniels could be healthy enough to return by early December, does that mean the team should let him take the field and again risk injury?

“You’re just got to try to do what’s best for the player,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said this week. “We know what we’re looking to do and how we want to do it, but by no means are we careless about that. It’s important not just for Jayden, but important for our entire team.”