Mariota Diagnosed With MCL Sprain; Daniels Set to Practice — SkimNews
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- Marcus Mariota suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee during Sunday's 30-13 loss to the Colts in London, with the return timetable uncertain according to coach Dan Quinn.
- Jayden Daniels will practice in full this week and is hoped to start Sunday against the visiting New York Giants, having been sidelined with a dislocated left elbow and playing a full game just five times since the start of the 2025 season.
- Rookie seventh-round pick Athan Kaliakmanis relieved Mariota in his NFL debut, completing 15-of-33 passes for 183 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
- The Commanders (1-3) lost 30-13 in London after Mariota was sacked by Colts defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore on third-and-goal from the 6, bending his right knee; Mariota had led two field goal drives for an early 6-0 lead.
- Punt and kick returner Jaylin Lane suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle on a kick return Sunday, ending his season; Lane averaged 13.7 yards per punt return with two touchdowns last season and 12.0 yards in 2026.
- Quinn indicated safety Nick Cross (internal injury), right guard Sam Cosmi (concussion), and running back Rachaad White (shoulder) could also return, while wide receiver Terry McLaurin's status after a Friday hamstring injury remains unclear.
- The Commanders are next scheduled to play at the San Francisco 49ers on Oct. 19 before their bye week, and Quinn said Washington wants to see Mariota's progress before deciding whether to add another quarterback.
Why it matters: A 1-3 team now faces a potential three-week stretch with an untested rookie (Kaliakmanis) or a hobbled Mariota as the bridge until Daniels returns, and Quinn has not committed to signing outside help — meaning Washington's playoff hopes hinge entirely on Daniels' dislocated elbow responding in time for a Giants game before a 49ers matchup and bye week.
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