The Commanders will add their name to a week of headlines dominated by backup QBs.
Star quarterback Jayden Daniels did not practice Friday and was ruled out for Sunday’s matchup with the Raiders as he deals with a knee sprain.
No. 2 QB Marcus Mariota will get the start under center against his former team in Week 3.
Daniels suffered the injury in last week’s loss to the Packers in which he was hit 12 times and sacked four.
“If called upon, we would certainly expect Marcus to deliver in the fashion that he does,” head coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday.
“He has been like a real standard as a Commander, player [and] teammate in elite ways.”
Veteran Josh Johnson is set to be Mariota’s backup.
Jayden Daniels #5 of the Washington Commanders reacts on the ground against the Green Bay Packers. Getty Images
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For Cincinnati, Jake Browning will helm the offense after incumbent Joe Burrow underwent toe surgery — and he’ll take on Carson Wentz, starting for the Vikings in place of injured JJ McCarthy.
Tyrod Taylor takes the mantle for the Jets with top option Justin Fields sidelined with a concussion.
Mariota said earlier in the week he’d just be “grateful” for the opportunity — even it somehow doesn’t pan out.
“For me, I’ve always tried to approach it the same,” he told reporters Wednesday. “So, I always try to approach it like I’m going to play that way. If the scenario happens or I’m given the opportunity to play, nothing changes for me on a week-to-week basis. So, my routine stays the same and I think it’s just kind of creates that normal procedure for me and it allows me just to go out there and play and not have to worry about, ‘OK, I gotta do this extra, I gotta do that.’ I just kind of stick to my process and allow that process to work.”
Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (18) throws during practice. APWashington will also be without veteran running back Austin Ekeler, who suffered a season-ending Achilles tear against Green Bay.
There isn’t much worry, at least not publicly, from the Commanders staff, when it comes to Mariota.
“Anytime he’s asked to play or practice or even on scout team, he’s been phenomenal,” offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said this week.
“So, he treats it like a pro as a leader on the team despite not being the starter, which is hard to do and can’t say enough good things about him. So, if he has to go, I’m sure he will be ready.”
