Marcus Mariota to miss rest of preseason with sprained MCL

The Washington Commanders will enter their final two preseason contests against Detroit and Baltimore without backup quarterback Marcus Mariota. The veteran is sidelined with a sprained MCL, an injury that occurred just four snaps into Friday night's preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins.

While Washington rested 26 players for the opener—including Jayden Daniels—Mariota was tasked with the start, only to exit during the team's first offensive possession.

Related YouTube video

The injury sequence began when Mariota completed a 22-yard pass to Dyami Brown. According to Yahoo Sports, Mariota took a hit and went down as he released the ball. Although he remained in the game for one more play, handing the ball to Kaytron Allen, he subsequently motioned that he needed to leave the field without any further contact. He walked off under his own power and entered the medical tent before retreating to the locker room.

In 2025, Mariota appeared in 11 games, making eight starts while Jayden Daniels dealt with injuries. During those appearances, Mariota recorded 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.

Speaking via Nfl, Quinn confirmed the sprained MCL diagnosis but stated he is optimistic that Mariota will be ready for the regular season. Quinn added that he does not anticipate bringing in another quarterback to fill the gap.

Sam Hartman and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis, who have been engaged in a quiet competition behind Daniels during training camp, are now expected to see large doses of playing time in the remaining preseason games.

Commanders Quarterback Depth Status

• Jayden Daniels: rested during Week 1.
• Marcus Mariota: Sprained MCL; out for remainder of preseason.
• Sam Hartman: Expected increase in reps for final two games.
• Athan Kaliakmanis: Expected increase in reps for final two games.

There is currently no public report suggesting he will miss regular-season games.

Preseason Implications and Roster Shifts

While head coach Dan Quinn expressed optimism via Nfl, the team now faces a void at the primary backup spot for the final two preseason games.

The vacuum created by Mariota's absence provides a sudden window for the remaining candidates. Sam Hartman and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis have spent a couple of weeks in a quiet competition at training camp, according to Yahoo Sports. They are now slated for increased playing time against Detroit and Baltimore.

Despite the loss of their veteran backup, the Commanders are not currently looking to the market for reinforcements. Quinn stated via NFL.com that he does not anticipate bringing in another quarterback to fill the gap for the remainder of the preseason.

The urgency of this evaluation is underscored by Mariota's role in 2025. Yahoo Sports notes that the backup position has carried weight recently, as Mariota appeared in 11 games and made eight starts. In those 11 appearances, Mariota threw for 1,695 yards and had 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The focus now shifts to the medical timeline. For the coaching staff, the next step is determining whether Mariota's recovery keeps him on schedule to be available when the regular season begins.

Medical Timeline and Roster Impact

While head coach Dan Quinn initially had no diagnosis following the game, he provided updated information on Sunday. According to NFL.com, the diagnosis is a sprained MCL, a detail also reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN.

This injury creates an immediate void in the depth chart for the final two preseason games.

Yahoo Sports reports the two have been engaged in a quiet competition for a couple of weeks at training camp. They are now the only available options to support Jayden Daniels during the final matchups against Detroit and Baltimore.

For the medical staff and Dan Quinn, the next step is monitoring the recovery process to ensure Mariota remains on schedule to be available when the regular season begins.