09/21/26 04:40:00
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09/21 16:38 CDT While awaiting more info on Daniels' injury, the Commanders
announce Mariota will start this weekend
While awaiting more info on Daniels' injury, the Commanders announce Mariota
will start this weekend
By ETHAN CADEAUX
Associated Press
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) --- Marcus Mariota will start at quarterback for the
Washington Commanders this weekend after Jayden Daniels went down with a
dislocated left elbow.
Commanders coach Dan Quinn said he might have an update on Daniels on Thursday
or Friday but declined to share a timeline for the quarterback's return to play.
"He had imaging done (on Monday)," Quinn said. "He'll see specialists early
this week, Tuesday and Wednesday. We'll go through the process from there. ...
Until we go through that process, I'd be guessing to give you any (timeline)."
The injury during Sunday's loss at Dallas came on a broken play at the end of
the first half. Daniels took a snap under center, and left guard Chris Paul
stepped on the quarterback's foot as he backed away from the line of scrimmage.
Daniels used his non-throwing arm to brace his fall and perhaps keep the play
going, but in doing so he injured the elbow.
"The freak ones like this, it's hard to explain," Quinn said. "I loved
everything about the first half, how he was playing, what we did. ... Total
surprise to see it."
A similar thing happened last November, when Daniels used his left arm to brace
himself and dislocated his elbow against Seattle. He returned from that injury
just over a month later, only to aggravate the problem and miss the rest of the
season.
Quinn said Monday there was no discussion of Daniels undergoing surgery when he
first sustained the injury last year, or of him wearing a protective brace.
"Hindsight is awesome," Quinn said. "I wish we had it on all things."
The Commanders now turn to the veteran Mariota, who is set to start Sunday's
home opener against Seattle. Quinn said he and general manager Adam Peters have
not discussed adding another veteran to the quarterback room. Rookie
seventh-round pick Athan Kaliakmanis has served as the emergency No. 3 QB in
Washington's first two games.
Mariota made eight starts for Washington in 2025 with Daniels sidelined, going
2-6. The veteran completed 11 of 16 passes for 111 yards and a touchdown during
Sunday's 37-20 loss to the Cowboys.
"There's nobody easier to rally around than (Mariota)," Quinn said. "When you
ask anybody on our team who some of our greatest leaders are, whether it's on
or off the field, Marcus is somebody that constantly comes up."
Quinn later said he doesn't anticipate new offensive coordinator David Blough
needing to change his system much with Mariota taking over.
"The biggest thing is: What do you want to feature with Marcus that you didn't
with Jayden?" Quinn said. "It won't be exactly the same, but fortunately there
will be a lot of similarities."
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