Marcus Mariota to Start for Commanders After Jayden Daniels Suffers 2nd Elbow Dislocation

Q: With Jayden Daniels suffering a hauntingly familiar elbow dislocation, could an ailing Marcus Mariota actually save Washington's season?

Yes—but only as a stabilizer, not a true replacement for Jayden Daniels. Washington’s immediate reality is that Daniels has again dislocated the same non-throwing left elbow, with no fracture on X-ray but more imaging still pending. That history matters more than Sunday’s initial test results: he missed several weeks with the same injury last season, returned, then re-aggravated it and lost the rest of the year. That makes a multi-game absence a realistic concern, even if the team has not put a timetable on it. Mariota gives Washington a credible bridge. He finished the Dallas game 11-for-16 for 111 yards and a touchdown, and his experience means the Commanders do not have to reinvent the offense. He still offers mobility, can push the ball downfield, and has shown he can function in relief. If he protects the ball and Washington leans on a simpler game plan, he can keep them competitive. But “save” is a strong word. Mariota himself has dealt with a sprained MCL recently, and the quarterback room behind him is thin, with Athan Kaliakmanis and Sam Hartman as developmental depth. More importantly, Daniels is the player who elevates the offense with dual-threat explosiveness. Mariota can keep the season from collapsing; he is unlikely to replicate Daniels’ ceiling. So the best-case scenario for Washington is not Mariota rescuing the season on his own. It is Mariota holding the line, avoiding mistakes, and buying enough time for Daniels to return without another setback.

3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Sep 21

Marcus Mariota is set to start next week after Jayden Daniels dislocated his left elbow in the Commanders' game against the Cowboys.
X-rays found no fracture, but coach Dan Quinn said more imaging is scheduled Monday and indicated Daniels could be sidelined for a while.
Daniels suffered the same non-throwing elbow injury last year, missing 4 weeks, returning for 1 game, then missing the final 4 weeks after re-aggravating it.
Washington now turns to Mariota as it awaits a clearer timetable for Daniels, whose latest setback revives concern about a recurring injury.