Marcus Mariota anticipates starting for the Commanders, replacing the injured Jayden Daniels
Washington Commanders: Marcus Mariota Steps Up as Jayden Daniels Deals with Knee Injury
In a surprising turn of events, Marcus Mariota is set to potentially take the helm for the Washington Commanders, with starting quarterback Jayden Daniels sidelined due to a knee injury. Daniels sustained the injury during last Thursday's loss against the Green Bay Packers.
Mariota, who has spent 11 years in the NFL, has been a valuable asset to the team, re-signing to continue mentoring Daniels, the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year. The former Oregon Duck, who was drafted No. 2 overall by the Tennessee Titans in 2015, has also played for the Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles, and Commanders in his career.
Despite not being the starter, Mariota treats his role like a professional. He has participated as the first-team offense in all three practices this week and has shown his worth, especially in the 2024 regular-season finale where he relieved Daniels and connected with Terry McLaurin for the game-winning touchdown with just two seconds left on the clock.
Mariota's performance in practice and his leadership have been praised by offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. If Daniels fails to meet the participation requirement, Mariota will start against the Las Vegas Raiders. This would be Mariota's first start in three years, and he is closer to making his 75th career regular-season start.
Head coach Dan Quinn requires participation in practice for the Commanders to have confidence in Daniels' safety to return to the starting role. If Daniels recovers in time, he will aim to build on his impressive rookie season.
Mariota spent the first five seasons of his career with the Tennessee Titans before moving to other teams. He battled tendinitis during training camp, limiting his availability and keeping him from playing in any of Washington's three preseason games. However, this is the first extended work with the group he's had since last season.
Mariota finished the game against Green Bay with a total of three touchdowns and was 15-of-18 passing. If he gets the nod to start against the Raiders, fans can expect a determined and experienced quarterback ready to lead the team.
The Commanders' final practice of the week saw head coach Dan Quinn absent from the field at the start of the session. The team will now focus on preparing for the upcoming game, with Mariota potentially stepping into a pivotal role.
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