By Sunday 
The Detroit Lions are licking their wounds after a heartbreaking 27–24 loss to the Minnesota Vikings — a game that saw not only a stinging defeat but a long line of players limping to the sideline. Nearly the entire offensive line took turns getting checked by trainers, a visual that summed up the Lions’ current state: bruised, battered, but still breathing. Yet as bad as it’s been, Week 10’s opponent is living a worse version of the same nightmare.
Commanders in Crisis Mode
The Washington Commanders enter their late-afternoon clash against Detroit with a medical report longer than a playbook. None of the names on that list looms larger than quarterback Jayden Daniels. The young QB’s sophomore season has been marred by a series of painful setbacks — a sprained knee, a pulled hamstring, and now, a dislocated elbow that could end his season.
Daniels’ latest injury came during a 38–14 blowout loss to Seattle, when he scrambled toward the end zone midway through the fourth quarter — long after the game was effectively decided. As he went down, his non-throwing elbow twisted awkwardly beneath him. Daniels left the field in an air cast and didn’t return.
The real controversy came after. Many are questioning head coach Dan Quinn’s decision to keep Daniels in the game, with some comparing it to Robert Griffin III’s ill-fated return back in 2013. “It was a senseless decision,” one commentator wrote — and it’s hard to argue otherwise.
Marcus Mariota Steps In
With Daniels sidelined, veteran Marcus Mariota is expected to start. His numbers this season — four touchdowns, four picks, and two fumbles — don’t inspire much fear, but as the Lions learned last week, stats don’t always tell the story. Mariota’s mobility and experience could still pose problems for a Detroit defense that’s struggled with consistency.
More Names Missing for Washington
The Commanders’ injury woes don’t end there. Star wide receiver Terry McLaurin is dealing with a quad injury and is also expected to sit out. McLaurin, who recently signed a massive new deal, has appeared in just four games this season.
Add to that Luke McCaffrey’s broken collarbone suffered on the opening kickoff against Seattle and Marcus Lattimore’s ACL tear on defense, and it’s clear the Commanders are running out of reinforcements fast.
Lions’ Must-Win Mindset
For Detroit, this matchup carries emotional weight — revenge for last season’s divisional-round upset when Daniels and company stunned them. But if the Lions are expecting an easy bounce-back win, they’d better think twice.
Even a short-handed Commanders team can be dangerous when backed into a corner. Dan Quinn’s squad will be desperate to prove something in front of their home crowd, and that makes them unpredictable.
If the Lions hope to stay in the playoff picture, they must treat this like a heavyweight fight, not a walkover. Because this late-afternoon showdown isn’t just between two teams — it’s between two locker rooms full of grit, tape, and stubborn determination to keep fighting through the pain.