Mariota has MCL sprain; Week 1 return expected
SkimNews Take
With Mariota shelved for the rest of the preseason, Washington's backup QB enters Week 1 without any live-game reps in this offense — a thin margin if anything happens to the starter early in Philadelphia.
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- Marcus Mariota sprained his right medial collateral ligament in the first quarter of Friday's 20-7 preseason-opening win over the Miami Dolphins and will miss the final two exhibition games.
- Coach Dan Quinn said the Commanders are 'optimistic' Mariota will be ready for the Sept. 13 season opener at Philadelphia, and Washington is not bringing in another quarterback at this time.
- Mariota played 11 games including eight starts last season as Jayden Daniels' backup, throwing for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions; he replaced an injured Daniels in two 2024 games, winning both — including a game-winning pass at Dallas in the regular-season finale with two seconds remaining.
- Mariota has dealt with injuries in each of the past two training camps, opening 2024 on injured reserve with a strained pectoral and missing last year's preseason due to a lower leg strain.
- Nick Allegretti (strained calf), the favorite to win the starting center job, and tight end John Bates (hamstring) will both practice Tuesday after missing since the first day of camp July 29.
- Cornerback Trey Amos, who fractured his fibula in Week 10 last season, is continuing to rehab an ankle injury he suffered on Aug. 7 in his first practice back, and running back Jeremy McNichols will miss a couple of weeks with a quad injury.
Why it matters: With Jayden Daniels already the entrenched starter, Washington's depth at quarterback matters most as insurance — and Mariota proved that value by winning two games for them last year when Daniels was hurt. The fact that Mariota has now been injured in three straight training camps raises real durability questions for a player the team relies on as its emergency starter heading into a season opener at Philadelphia.
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