Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee, leaving his return timeline uncertain, coach Dan Quinn said Monday. Mariota, who started the past two games while Jayden Daniels recovered from a dislocated elbow, left Sunday’s loss to Indianapolis after a hard hit by defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore. Quinn confirmed Daniels will practice fully this week and is expected to start Sunday against the New York Giants. Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis filled in for Mariota, completing 15 of 33 passes for 183 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut. The Commanders also lost punt and kick returner Jaylin Lane to a fractured and dislocated ankle, ending his season. Quinn indicated other injured starters—safety Nick Cross (internal), right guard Sam Cosmi (concussion), running back Rachaad White (shoulder)—could return, while wide receiver Terry McLaurin’s status remains unclear after a hamstring injury.
The injury adds to Mariota’s list of past MCL issues, including a preseason sprain in August that sidelined him briefly. Washington will face the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 19 before its bye week, with the quarterback situation central to its playoff hopes.
Overall, Mariota has thrown 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 17 games since joining Washington in 2024. His absence, combined with the loss of Lane, could affect both the passing attack and special teams.
Source: ESPN NFL · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing