The Washington Commanders faced a significant setback in their quarterback lineup during a game in the United Kingdom. Marcus Mariota injured his knee playing against the Indianapolis Colts. The injury occurred when Colts defensive lineman Laiatu Latu sacked Mariota in the pass pocket.
Initially, the Commanders reported Mariota as questionable to return due to a right knee injury, but he was ruled out after halftime. This incident occurred during the first quarter of the game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 4, 2026.
The Commanders are dealing with another quarterback injury. Jayden Daniels had dislocated his left elbow in a game against the Dallas Cowboys on September 20, making him unavailable since then. With Daniels’ limited practice return, the team hopes he can start in Week 5 against the New York Giants.
OutKick’s medical expert, Dr. David Chao, expressed concern about Mariota’s knee, suspecting an MCL injury. Such worries were validated, as Mariota had a similar MCL issue in 2022 that required surgery. Given that, the team’s cautious approach kept him sidelined despite multiple possessions that could have allowed his return with a brace.
With both starting quarterbacks sidelined, the Commanders turned to Athan Kaliakmanis. He is a rookie who was drafted in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft. Kaliakmanis, who played college football at Minnesota and Rutgers, saw action as the third-string quarterback in this game.
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