Washington – Coach Dan Quinn confirmed on Monday that quarterback Jayden Daniels will be back on the practice field this week, giving the Commanders a much‑needed boost after starter Marcus Mariota suffered a sprained right medial collateral ligament (MCL) on Sunday.

Injury update on Marcus Mariota

Mariota was forced out of the Commanders’ London game against the Indianapolis Colts after a first‑quarter sack that damaged the same knee he injured in the preseason opener this summer. The play came just before Washington kicked a field goal to take a 6‑0 lead, but the Colts rallied to win 30‑13.

Quinn said Mariota will “work off to the side as it goes through the next week or so,” indicating the team will monitor his progress closely. The veteran quarterback completed three of four passes for 46 yards in his brief Sunday appearance.

Jayden Daniels returns to practice

Daniels, 25, is expected to have a full week of practice and could be ready to start on Sunday when the Commanders host the New York Giants. Quinn emphasized the goal of giving Daniels a complete preparation period before the next game.

Daniels entered the season as the starter after dislocating his left (non‑throwing) elbow in Week 2. He has thrown two touchdown passes this year, completing 29 of 51 attempts for 260 yards with no interceptions. His career record as a starter stands at 14‑12, with a 65.9% completion rate, 5,090 passing yards, 36 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

Backup quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis steps in

Rookie third‑stringer Athan Kaliakmanis, a Rutgers graduate, took over after Mariota’s exit, completing 15 of 33 passes for 186 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Team performance and Mariota’s career stats

The Commanders (1‑3) have gone 1‑1 with Mariota as starter this season. Over his NFL career, Mariota has a 37‑47 record as a starter, a 62.8% completion rate, 18,219 passing yards, 111 touchdowns and 62 interceptions across stints with the Tennessee Titans, Las Vegas Raiders, Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington.

Looking ahead

With Daniels expected to be fully prepared and Mariota’s status uncertain, the Commanders will rely on the young quarterback to lead the offense against the Giants. The team hopes to rebound from the recent loss and improve its early‑season record.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.