Sunday surely wasn’t the brightest day for the Washington Commanders. And surely not for their minority owner, and NBA legend Magic Johnson. The NFL is at the heart of the 2025 season, and with a 3-4 record, Washington met another heartbreak. This time, it was their star quarterback, Jayden Daniels. Falling prey to a hamstring injury against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Daniels left the field in pain.

There was silence at AT&T Field in Arlington, Texas. Jayden dropped down several minutes into the third quarter of the game. But then, at first, it looked like he was about to throw the ball. Isn’t that what a QB does? Unfortunately, the rival side’s Shemar James noticed, something was off.

To be honest, losing a quarterback is troublesome in the world of football, and Magic Johnson also understands that. Thus, as always, keeping the wounded in his prayers, he tweeted. Johnson wrote: “Praying that Jayden Daniels’ hamstring injury won’t keep him out for a prolonged period of time. My Commanders lost 44-22 to the Cowboys.”

The message is simple: Jayden Daniels won’t be away for too long. And when he comes back, he will be stronger. Well, this suddenly reminds me of watching Stephen Curry fall with that ominous hamstring injury in the 2025 NBA Playoffs against the Minnesota Timberwolves. That shifted the trajectory of the Golden State Warriors, who suddenly emerged as championship contenders after a tumultuous regular season last season.

The Commanders’ star second-year QB will face a big test on Monday when he undergoes an MRI on his right upper leg, and all eyes will be on the results. If the scan confirms a hamstring strain worse than mild, the team might have to shut him down for anywhere from a few weeks to several months. This means Daniels’ explosive playmaking could suddenly be on pause, leaving fans and the team hanging on every update.

Now, the real question following the injury is: who will replace the 24-year-old at Magic Johnson’s team?

Magic Johnson & Co. surely have their pick to take over while Jayden Daniels is away

During his postgame news conference, Commanders coach Dan Quinn shared a brief update on Daniels with reporters. “He definitely wanted to go back in,” Quinn said. “He’ll get an MRI on his hamstring tomorrow.” Coach Quinn also made it clear that Daniels could not have returned to the game, no matter the score. The 55-year-old promised more clarity on the quarterback’s injury on Monday.

Before leaving, Daniels completed 12 of 22 passes for 156 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 35 yards with another score. Originally marked questionable to return, his exit now casts a tense shadow over the team’s offense. Now, what are the options available for Magic Johnson’s Washington? Marcus Mariota. The seasoned 31-year-old QB.

With Jayden Daniels out, Mariota steps in to lead Washington’s offense for the rest of the game. The 31-year-old, in his second season with the Commanders, has started 76 career games and is 1-1 filling in this year, completing 64.6% of passes for 363 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Meanwhile, the team carries three quarterbacks on its roster and also keeps Sam Hartman on the practice squad.

Sunday shook the Commanders, and even Magic Johnson felt the sting. With Jayden Daniels sidelined by a hamstring injury, the offense pivots to Marcus Mariota, a seasoned hand ready to steer the ship. Daniels’ MRI on Monday will decide the real timeline, leaving fans biting their nails. Meanwhile, Washington leans on depth, waiting in the wings to keep the chaos contained.