The Washington Commanders won’t have superstar quarterback Jayden Daniels in Week 3 and will start veteran backup Marcus Mariota in his place against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3.
MRI tests revealed Daniels suffered a PCL sprain in a 27-18 Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Mariota is in his second season as Daniels’ backup and signed a 1-year, $8 million contract on March 12 after playing on a 1-year, $6 million contract in 2024.
“Now official: Commanders HC Dan Quinn said Marcus Mariota will start Sunday versus the Raiders,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on September 19.
Mariota filled in for Daniels in 2024 after he injured his ribs in the first quarter of a 40-7 Week 7 win over the Carolina Panthers. Mariota looked sharp that day, going 18-of-23 passing for 205 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions to go with 11 carries for 34 yards.
He also saw extended action in the regular season finale, going 15-of-19 passing for 161 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions to go with 5 carries for 56 yards and 1 touchdown in a 23-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
“Through the first two weeks of the season, he leads all quarterbacks in QB contact. … He led all quarterbacks in QB contact last year. … It’s just not sustainable,” ESPN’s Mina Kimes said on September 18.
Passing 34-44 • 364 yards 4TD 131.3 passer rating
Rushing 18 totes 92 yards 1TD 6 first downs
“2nd most important position is the back-up QB”
#RaiseHailMariota, Daniels Have Plenty In Common
Mariota and Daniels have a lot in common aside from just how they play — starting with both being similar size. Mariota is 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds while Daniels is 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds.
Both players were No. 2 overall picks in the NFL draft. Mariota was picked No. 2 by the Tennessee Titans in 2015 and Daniels was picked No. 2 in 2024.
Both were rookie starting quarterbacks. Mariota went 3-9 in 2015 and Daniels went 12-5 in 2024, leading his team to the NFC Championship Game.
Both played in the Pac-12 Conference. Mariota starred at the University of Oregon. Daaniels started his career at Arizona State before he transferred to LSU for his final 2 seasons.
Both Mariota and Daniels are also part of college football’s most exclusive club — Mariota became Oregon’s first Heisman Trophy winner in 2014 and Daniels won the Heisman Trophy at LSU in 2023.
Sunday will be Mariota’s first start since 2022, when he was playing with the Atlanta Falcons.
“Marcus is still in this league for a reason,” Commanders wide receiver Deebo Samuel said on September 17. “He’s been playing well whenever his name’s been called.”
Commanders Praised For Bringing Back Mariota
With Daniels getting hurt this early in the season, the Commanders look like geniuses for making a move to bring back Mariota as quickly as they did.
From ESPN in March: “Free agent quarterback Marcus Mariota is returning to the Washington Commanders on a one-year, $8 million deal, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Wednesday. Mariota served as rookie Jayden Daniels’ backup with the Commanders in 2024. Daniels and the coaches often praised Mariota for his mentorship of the rookie, but he also helped Washington win two games after the rookie starter was injured.”
Mariota will be facing a familiar foe when he takes the field against the Raiders. He played for Las Vegas in 2020 and 2021 as the backup to Derek Carr but didn’t start any games.
“I get that he isn’t JD5 but I don’t understand the gloom and doom some seem to have related to him playing,” Commanders fan Mark Phillips wrote on X.
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