Mariota ruled out as Commanders turn to 7th-round rookie — SkimNews
Get the Sports newsletter
Daily sports — scores, transfers, the storylines from the leagues you actually follow. Free.
- Marcus Mariota left the London game on the second series with a right knee injury, ruled out at halftime after aggravating an MCL injury that had knocked him out of the preseason.
- Athan Kaliakmanis, a seventh-round rookie, replaced Mariota for his first NFL snaps, becoming the third option behind starter Jayden Daniels, who missed a second straight game with a dislocated left elbow.
- The injury cascade extended well beyond quarterback: top wide receiver Terry McLaurin (hamstring) was inactive, right guard Sam Cosmi missed his second game, defensive end Charles Omenihu (groin) was ruled out at halftime, and wide receiver Jaylin Lane was carted off in the third quarter with a left ankle injury.
- Mariota's pre-injury production included 46 passing yards and a 35-yard zone-read run that set up a field goal, one week after he led Washington to a 33-31 win over Seattle with 183 yards and three touchdowns.
- Mariota's tenure in Washington spans three seasons and 10 career starts, per ESPN, underscoring how thin the depth chart is now with both Daniels and Mariota sidelined.
Why it matters: The Commanders entered Sunday already missing franchise QB Jayden Daniels and top receiver Terry McLaurin, and Mariota's MCL aggravation — his second knee injury of the season — leaves a seventh-round rookie with zero prior NFL snaps running the offense. The cumulative injury toll (five players out or carted off in one game) leaves Washington extraordinarily thin for the stretch ahead.
Ask SkimNews
