The Washington Commanders have ruled out Jayden Daniels for Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders due to the knee sprain he suffered in the game against the Green Bay Packers. As a result, the Commanders will be counting on veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota.
For the days leading up to the game against the Raiders, Washington have been cautious about whether Daniels would be ready for the contest. Nonetheless, the Commanders aren’t willing to rush him, and now Mariota gets to play his former team, as he was with the Silver and Black from 2020-21 and played 11 games.
Despite the uncertainty of who they will need to prepare for all week, the Raiders decided to take no chances, and head coach Pete Caroll noted that the team prepared for both Mariota and Daniels.
“We’ve talked about both guys playing all week long and we’ve looked at film of both guys all week long,” Carroll told reporters on September 19. “That’s what they’re dealing with. We have to get out there and get our game right and make sure everybody’s head is in the right direction while we play a great football game.
“This is a winning football club and, you know, [Dan Quinn] turned it around in no time. He had a great season last year, so they have a winning mentality and will be tough at home. That’s all we need to do—go play our game. That’s the challenge.”
Raiders’ Pete Carroll Offers More Insight on Marcus Mariota
Moreover, Carroll explained that the Commanders’ offense won’t change much with Mariota taking over under center for Daniels. While Daniels is the better athlete and player, the two share similar qualities that allowed Las Vegas to not steer away completely from their defensive game plan.
“They looked very similar,” Carroll added. “They did the same place, same style. He’s a runner, you know. He’s run all through his career. Jaden is a fantastic all-around athlete.
“Well, so is Marcus Mariota, and we would think Marcus would do all of the same stuff as we’ve seen on film—from throwing the ball down the field to keeping it and all the rest, and scrambling, all of that.”
The Raiders’ defense had plenty of questions heading into the 2025 season, but the group hasn’t allowed over 20 points so far. Las Vegas will look to continue this trend against Washington.
Commanders Have Faith in Marcus Mariota Against Las Vegas
Part of the reason the Commanders kept Mariota is his athleticism. If he needs to play, the game plan doesn’t need a major overhaul since Mariota and Daniels have similar styles.
Mariota takes care of the football, especially in the red zone, and can use his legs to extend plays. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said having two starters in Daniels and Mariota is “rare in this league.”
“Anytime [Mariota is] asked to play or practice or even on scout team, he’s been phenomenal,” Kingsbury said (h/t Commanders.com). “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.”
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