Tag: mariota

Marcus Mariota still ailing, Josh Johnson could start again for Commanders

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Marcus Mariota could be unavailable in Week 18 due to his injuries, giving veteran quarterback Josh Johnson his second straight start when the Washington Commanders close the season against the host Philadelphia Eagles.

Mariota injured his throwing hand and quadriceps in Week 16 against the Eagles and missed last week’s 30-23 home loss to the Dallas Cowboys. He’s dealing with stitches in his right hand.

Washington coach Dan Quinn termed it as “still a stretch” on Monday per whether Mariota might be able to play. He said he will have a better idea on Wednesday.

“There’s still hope,” Quinn said.

Johnson completed 15 of 23 passes for 198 yards against Dallas as the Commanders dropped to 4-12. It was his first start since 2021 with the Baltimore Ravens. The 39-yard-old is 1-9 as an NFL starter.

In four appearances this season, Johnson has passed for 241 yards and one interception.

If Johnson starts, journeyman Jeff Driskel would be the No. 2 quarterback against the Eagles.

The 32-year-old has a 1-10 record while starting games for five different teams. He has not thrown a pass in two seasons with the Commanders.

Starting quarterback Jayden Daniels (elbow) played in just seven games this season. He initially hurt the elbow on Nov. 2 against the Seattle Seahawks and aggravated it upon his return against the Minnesota Vikings five weeks later.

Center Tyler Biadasz (ankle/knee) will likely miss the finale but Quinn said he won’t require surgery for either of his injuries. He was injured against Dallas.

–Field Level Media

Veteran QB Josh Johnson to start for Commanders vs. Cowboys

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson will start for the Washington Commanders in their Christmas Day home game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Washington coach Dan Quinn also confirmed Wednesday that Jeff Driskel, who signed with the team on Monday, will back up Johnson. The Commanders are signing practice squad QB Sam Hartman to the 53-man roster to serve as the emergency third quarterback.

The Commanders put starter Jayden Daniels on injured reserve on Dec. 15, deciding to shut him down for the season after a variety of injuries limited him to seven games this season.

Veteran Marcus Mariota, Daniels’ backup, suffered both hand and quad injuries during last Saturday’s loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and will not play. Quinn said there is a chance Mariota could return in the Week 18 finale, also against the Eagles.

Johnson finished 5-of-9 passing for 43 yards and an interception in relief of Mariota last week. The 39-year-old, in his 10th NFL season dating back to his debut in 2009, has played in 48 games with a 1-8 record in nine career starts. That win came in 2018 with Washington.

The Commanders (4-11) and Cowboys (6-8-1) have both been eliminated from playoff contention.

–Field Level Media

Jan 5, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) celebrates with Washington Commanders wide receiver Luke McCaffrey (12) and Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (18) after scoring the game-winning touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Commanders to face Falcons without Jayden Daniels, Terry McLaurin

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback Jayden Daniels was ruled out for the second consecutive week with a knee injury, pushing former Atlanta starter Marcus Mariota into the lineup for the Washington Commanders against the Falcons on Sunday.

Mariota and head coach Dan Quinn are former Falcons riding into Atlanta with confidence after a victory over the Raiders last week.

Daniels attempted to work back for Week 4. He sustained the injury in the latter stages of Washington’s 27-18 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 11 and sat out last Sunday’s 41-24 victory over the Raiders.

Wide receiver Terry McLaurin, who sustained a quadriceps injury during the third quarter against the Raiders, was also ruled out on Friday.

Daniels wore a brace on the left knee in practice this week and said he didn’t feel pain or discomfort.

Quinn maintained the coaching staff and Daniels would not be involved in any decision about the status of the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year.

“It’s up to the doctors, not my decision,” Daniels said this week.

Mariota stepped up and was an efficient 15 of 21 for 207 yards and a touchdown versus the Raiders. He was 5-8 in 13 starts for the Falcons in 2022.

McLaurin last missed a start since 2020 and has a streak of 72 consecutive games played.

He entered the season with little on-field preparation following a protracted holdout that ended Aug. 25 when he signed a three-year contract extension.

McLaurin, a third-round draft pick in 2019, has 470 career receptions for 6,528 yards and 38 TDs in 100 games.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2025; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) talks to Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) on the field during the first quarter against the New York Giants at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Signs point to Marcus Mariota starting for Commanders for injured Jayden Daniels

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Marcus Mariota edged closer to making his 75th career regular-season start on Friday with fellow quarterback Jayden Daniels not on the field when the Washington Commanders began their final practice of the week.

Daniels has been on the field early in the day this week to throw, but hasn’t gone through a practice since injuring his knee last Thursday in Washington’s loss at Green Bay.

Head coach Dan Quinn set participation in practice as a must this week for the Commanders to have confidence Daniels safely can return to the starting role.

Short of that, the plan is to hand the keys to 31-year-old backup Mariota for the starting assignment against one of his former teams, the Las Vegas Raiders. It would be his first start in three years.

“Anytime he’s asked to play or practice or even on scout team, he’s been phenomenal,” Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said. “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.”

Mariota the first-team offense in all three practices this week. It’s the first extended work with the group he’s had since last season. He battled tendinitis during training camp, limiting his availability and keeping him from playing in any of Washington’s three preseason games.

Mariota completed 77.3 percent of his passes in two cameo appearances in 2024 and re-signed with Washington to continue mentoring Daniels, the 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year. In the 2024 regular-season finale, Mariota relieved Daniels and connected with Terry McLaurin for the game-winning touchdown with two seconds left. He finished the game with a total of three touchdowns and was 15-of-18 passing.

“I think that’s what’s been awesome about this team. We kind of preach it every single day, but just the brotherhood, the connection, regardless of how this situation plays out, just knowing that the guys have my back gives me confidence,” Mariota said.

Mariota spent the first five seasons of his 11-year NFL career with the Tennessee Titans, who drafted him No. 2 overall out of Oregon in 2015. He signed with the Raiders in 2020 and played in 11 games over two seasons before jumping to the Atlanta Falcons (2022), Philadelphia Eagles (2023) and Commanders.

–Field Level Media

Sep 11, 2025; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) scrambles away from Green Bay Packers defensive end Lukas Van Ness (90) at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Tork Mason-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Commanders ready Marcus Mariota with Jayden Daniels (knee) idle

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback Marcus Mariota is preparing to start for the Commanders on Sunday with Jayden Daniels unavailable for Wednesday’s practice.

Daniels threw on the field early Wednesday morning but coach Dan Quinn said there is a return-to-play checklist he must work through before he’s in the conversation about starting against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday.

“He won’t practice today. As we get into Friday I’ll give you a sense of where we’re at,” Quinn said. “We recognize the importance of the person, the player, what he means to the franchise. We’re also going to be smart, not just fast, in the assessment.

“We’ve talked a little bit about returning to play but there are position-specific skills for each one.”

Quinn said the Commanders are being cautious with Daniels’ knee because he wants to do “everything all the time.” Quinn said Daniels would need to get back on the field in a team setting — meaning complete one practice — before he’s comfortable playing him Sunday.

Quinn said he would expect Mariota to deliver at the standard he’s set with the franchise as an “elite player and leader.”

The Commanders are comfortable asking Mariota, 31, to make his 77th career NFL start and first since 2022 with the Falcons. He played in three games for the Commanders last season in relief of Daniels, completing 77.3 percent of his passes for 364 yards with four touchdowns and zero interceptions.

Daniels appeared to be limping near the end of Washington’s 27-18 loss at Green Bay last Thursday. Despite the ailment, he played the entire game, completing 24 of 42 passes for 200 yards and two touchdowns while being sacked four times.

Daniels, 24, was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year last season after he was selected second overall by the Commanders. Counting the postseason, he started all 20 games, completing 68.4 percent of his passes for 4,390 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while leading his team to the NFC Championship Game.

In two games this season, Daniels connected on 59.7 percent of his passes for 433 yards and three TDs with no interceptions as the Commanders have gone 1-1.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) walks off the field during the first quarter after an injury against the Carolina Panthers at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels (ribs) sits out Wednesday practice

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Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels sat out practice on Wednesday and won’t play until head coach Dan Quinn decides the rookie No. 2 pick is not impacted by injured ribs.

Marcus Mariota took Daniels’ spot and the starter’s reps Wednesday in preparation for a possible start Sunday against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears (4-2).

Quinn said there is no added motivation for Daniels to take the field against Williams, who was the top pick in the 2024 draft in April.

“He’ll get the treatment today and he’ll continue to progress today and tomorrow,” Quinn said Wednesday. “I’ll update you guys after Friday’s practice, and we’ll go from there.

“You guys have all been around Jayden. Anybody, anywhere, anytime — is really the mindset for him. At his core, one of the things I admire about him is readiness, ready to go prove it.”

Daniels was hurt on the first offensive play for the Commanders in a 40-7 win over the Panthers Sunday. The victory improved Washington’s record to 5-2.

Daniels injured his ribs at the end of a 46-yard run on the team’s first snap. He stayed in the game and the drive ended in a field goal before Mariota relieved him.

Daniels has six touchdown passes and four rushing TDs this season, leading the league with a 75.6 completion percentage and is sixth in the NFL in passer rating at 107.0. Mariota is 19 of 26 (73.1 percent) for 203 yards and two touchdowns.

Quinn said Daniels is “close” to being ready to practice. How he practices and Quinn’s inexact measure of whether Daniels is “himself, fully turnt up” dictates what will happen from there.

“He’s close to there, the practice field is the next step of that,” Quinn said. “I want to make sure he can be, fully express himself and do all the things he does that make him so unique and special. That’s what we’ll do, not much different than any other player.”

–Field Level Media

Aug 21, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jake Fromm (11) drops back to pass against the Baltimore Ravens during the second half at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Commanders release QB Jake Fromm

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Washington Commanders pared down the quarterbacks room on Tuesday, releasing Jake Fromm.

Fromm signed with the Commanders practice squad in October 2022 and spent most of the past two seasons with that group.

Fromm started at Georgia from 2017-19 before the Buffalo Bills selected him in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. In college, he threw for 8,224 yards with 78 touchdowns and 18 interceptions but hasn’t seen the same success in the NFL.

The New York Giants signed him off the practice squad in 2021, and he appeared in three games that season, starting two. Fromm, 25, was 0-2 as a starter and completed 27 of 60 passes (45 percent) for 210 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions in his only NFL action.

Washington traded starting quarterback Sam Howell to the Seattle Seahawks in March, getting draft picks in return. The Commanders selected Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels of LSU with the No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft.

They also have veteran quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Jeff Driskel and undrafted free agent rookie Sam Hartman on the roster.

–Field Level Media

Dec 4, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota (1) passes against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Eagles reach deal with QB Marcus Mariota

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Quarterback Marcus Mariota reportedly is headed to the Philadelphia Eagles, this time as a backup instead of as an expected franchise savior.

The 29-year-old veteran agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal that could rise to a maximum value of $8 million with incentives, ESPN reported Thursday night.

Mariota would serve as a backup to Jalen Hurts, who went 14-1 as a starter last year.

When Mariota was coming out of Oregon in 2015, the Eagles’ head coach and de facto general manager at the time was Chip Kelly, who was in charge of the Ducks during Mariota’s freshman season. Kelly reportedly offered an enormous trade package to the Titans to move up to the No. 2 pick in the draft to select Mariota, but Tennessee rejected the offer and chose the QB.

Mariota spent five years with the Titans, going 29-32 as a starter while completing 62.9 percent of his passes for 13,207 yards with 76 touchdown throws and 44 interceptions.

He served as a backup quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020 and 2021 before signing with Atlanta last spring. Mariota started the first 13 games for the Falcons in 2022, going 5-8 before he was benched in December.

Mariota posted a 61.3 percent completion rate while throwing for 2,219 yards, 15 TDs and nine interceptions last season. For his 87-game career, he has a 34-40 record as a starter with a 62.6 percent completion rate, 15,656 yards, 92 touchdowns and 54 interceptions.

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2023; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder (4) throws a pass against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons plan to add QB, part with Marcus Mariota

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot cleared the path for Atlanta to pursue another quarterback on Tuesday.

Fontenot, speaking at the NFL Scouting Combine, said he was impressed by rookie Desmond Ridder’s showing in December. But the Falcons plan to add at the position, he said, and Atlanta is diving into options in the draft, free agency and the trade market.

“Ultimately, we’re going to add at the position,” he said. “We’re always going to leave every door open. Whether it’s the (eighth pick) or some other point in the draft, we could definitely bring in a quarterback. We don’t want to box ourselves in.”

The Falcons have the No. 8 pick in the first round and are a projected $75 million below the 2023 salary cap, meaning no contract is too onerous for the franchise to absorb. It’s part of the reason the team is consistently connected to rumors around Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson.

“If you have a lot of cap space, that means you have a lot of work to do,” Fontenot said.

Ridder, 23, became prominent in the team’s plans at this event last February. Fontenot cited the then-Cincinnati QB as the player who stood out the most in a sea of 330 prospects, and he met personally with 50 prospects along with his scouting staff and coaches.

But if the chance to upgrade at “critical positions” presents itself, Fontenot said the Falcons will investigate those options.

Atlanta officially released Mariota, 29, on Tuesday, Fontenot confirmed.

“We really appreciate Marcus and all the things he did while he was here,” Fontenot said.

–Field Level Media

Dec 4, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota (1) throws against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons QB Marcus Mariota leaves team due to demotion

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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota has reportedly left the club after being demoted as the team’s starter due to performance-based reasons.

Mariota is dealing with a knee injury that will likely lead him to being placed on injured reserve. But he was not happy to learn he was being replaced as the team’s starter by rookie Desmond Ridder.

The move came during the bye week for the Falcons and Ridder will make his NFL debut this Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.

“Those (conversations) are never easy,” Falcons coach Arthur Smith said. “You try to be truthful, whether they agree or not, those are the conversations you have to have.”

According to The Athletic, Smith informed Mariota on Thursday morning that he was being replaced by Ridder. The following day, Mariota said he planned to leave the team.

Smith said the move is Mariota’s prerogative but it was easy to see the head coach was disappointed after lobbying for the Falcons to sign Mariota in the offseason.

Smith was on the offensive staff of the Tennessee Titans for five seasons — including offensive coordinator in 2019 — while Mariota was with that team. Mariota lost this starting job to Ryan Tannehill during the 2019 season.

“Of course, you want all your guys to be here, but guys have to make decisions,” Smith said. “It’s part of professional sports. You have to have contingency plans.”

Mariota has passed for 2,219 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season. But he has failed to reach 200 passing yards 10 times, including the past five contests.

Overall, the former No. 2 overall pick in 2015 has passed for 15,656 yards, 92 touchdowns and 54 interceptions in 87 career games (74 starts) with the Titans (2015-19), Las Vegas Raiders (2020-21) and Falcons.

He signed a two-year, $18.75 million deal with Atlanta in the offseason.

Mariota won the Heisman Trophy in 2014 to cap a strong college career at Oregon.

Ridder was Atlanta’s third-round selection (74th overall) in this year’s draft out of Cincinnati.

–Field Level Media