Commanders rally around Marcus Mariota with Jayden Daniels sidelined

ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The Washington Commanders have turned to veteran Marcus Mariota under center in what’s become a familiar sight in Ashburn over the past two seasons.

Mariota will start Sunday against the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks while starter Jayden Daniels seeks additional treatment for his left elbow which he dislocated on the final play of the first half in Sunday’s 37-20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Sunday’s game will mark the 11th that Daniels has missed since the start of the 2025 season because of an injury.

Losing Daniels is a crushing setback for Washington, especially considering how well he was playing before the injury. But as big a loss as Daniels is, the team remains confident in Mariota.

“He’s a good quarterback,” wide receiver Stefon Diggs said. “He’s been in this league a long time. We’ve got a lot of confidence in him. As a receiver, you just got to go with the right mindset of getting open and catching the ball. It’s still football at the end of the day, and you want to be open for him.”

This isn’t the first time Mariota has been in this position. The 32-year-old has played plenty of roles in his 12-year career.

Last season, Mariota started eight games for the Commanders, throwing for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions while adding 297 rushing yards. Washington went 2-6 in those games.

“You never know when your number’s going to be called,” Mariota said. “I just try to treat every week like I’m the starter. I just mentally prepare that way so that if it does happen, the transition is relatively easy. So for me, nothing’s specifically changed.”

Against Dallas, he was 11 of 16 for 111 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown pass to Diggs.

“Marcus came in and did some great things,” Diggs said.

The Commanders aren’t asking Mariota to replicate Daniels. The quarterbacks have different strengths, and this week’s practice will focus on crafting a game plan that fits Mariota’s skill set. A full week of practice should help Mariota’s confidence.

“The reps, the actual being out there taking the mental — that’s all real,” he said. “As the backup, you’re just kind of like trying to envision it, and if your number’s called, you just kind of go off instinct. To get the reps is very helpful.”

When backup quarterbacks enter the game, sometimes they feel added pressure to make plays and elevate their game — something Mariota said he dealt with last season. So, when he was forced into the game on Sunday, the quarterback tried to keep things simple.

“I was coming in trying to just make a play, and I was kind of putting on this Superman cape,” Mariota said. “Sometimes when you overstress yourself, you make a mistake. I was kind of looking back on it and reflecting, and I thought last week, being able to come in and not overstress and just like, ‘Hey, just go and play within the system,’ that was a big step for me.”

Mariota has found the most success when getting the football out quickly. He hopes to continue that trend this week against Seattle, currently the NFL’s top-ranked unit through the first two weeks.

“I really think of myself as a point guard,” Mariota said. “The more that I can get these guys the ball, the playmakers, especially faster, the more space they got, the more that they can do with it. I used to joke like, they tackle the guy with the ball, so the more that I can get it out of my hand, by all means.”

Energy was high in the Commanders locker room on Wednesday following what Diggs called “a great first day of practice.” Losing Daniels is significant, but the Commanders have no time to dwell on it with 15 games remaining.

“I really hate to say have the next-man-up mindset, it’s so cliché,” Diggs said. “But we can’t do anything about it. At this point, we’re trying to move forward. Hopefully (Daniels) can come back at some point this season, but for now, we’re rocking with eight.”

Mariota has felt support from his teammates, too.

“We’ve got a great group of guys that just are rallying around and supporting one another,” Mariota said. “It’s never easy when your starting quarterback goes out. Everyone has to kind of lift their game. Guys are really believing in each other, and that’s what counts.”

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