Commanders Turn to Mariota
Marcus Mariota will start for the Commanders after Jayden Daniels suffers elbow injury.
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Key Points
1
Dan Quinn strongly endorsed Marcus Mariota, saying, “There’s nobody easier to rally around than him.”
2
Daniels’ injury occurred on a broken play near the end of the first half, and he missed the entire second half against Dallas.
3
When Daniels suffered a similar elbow dislocation last season, Washington did not discuss surgery or use of a protective brace; he returned after a little more than a month but later aggravated the injury and missed the rest of the season.
4
Mariota made eight starts for Washington in 2025 while Daniels was sidelined, posting a 2-6 record.
5
Safety Nick Cross spent the night in a Texas hospital before being discharged Monday, while Brandon Coleman was expected to practice despite a finger injury.
Marcus Mariota will start for the Washington Commanders against Seattle this week after Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow in Sunday's 37-20 loss to Dallas. NFL.com reported that coach Dan Quinn gave no timeline for Daniels' return, saying the team will wait for specialist consultations before estimating when the quarterback might play again.
Daniels' injury is the same elbow he dislocated last season—an injury that eventually ended his year. Yahoo Sports noted that the injury occurred when Daniels fell awkwardly after an offensive lineman stepped on his foot near the end of the first half. Washington is 0-2 and will rely on Mariota and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis as available quarterbacks for now.
How Daniels Went Down on the Same Elbow
The injury happened on a broken play late in the first half when an offensive lineman stepped on Daniels' foot, causing him to fall awkwardly. He missed the entire second half and NFL.com confirmed he underwent imaging tests on Monday. The concern runs deep: Daniels dislocated this same elbow last season, missed over a month, then re-aggravated it and sat out the rest of the year.
Mariota Steps In With Strong Coach Support
Dan Quinn praised Mariota after the game, saying, "There's nobody easier to rally around than him." Yahoo Sports reported that Mariota made eight starts for Washington in 2025 while Daniels was hurt, posting a 2-6 record. At 0-2 to start this season, the Commanders now turn to a veteran who knows the system and has experience leading the locker room.
Nick Cross Hospitalized Overnight But Expected Back
Safety Nick Cross spent Monday night in a Texas hospital but was discharged the following day, according to Yahoo Sports. The exact nature of his injury was not disclosed, but he is being monitored by the team. Tight end Brandon Coleman is expected to practice despite a finger injury, giving the Commanders some relief on the depth chart.
No Urgent Search for Another Starter
Washington has not discussed signing a veteran quarterback to back up or replace Mariota, leaving the depth chart to Mariota and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis. The New York Times has noted that backup quarterback depth is critical in the NFL—only 10 of 61 starting QBs started all games last season—but the Commanders appear confident in their current roster for now.
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