Jan 5, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA;  Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) runs with the ball past Dallas Cowboys defensive end Chauncey Golston (99) during the first half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Commanders edge Cowboys, secure NFC’s No. 6 seed

Marcus Mariota’s 3-yard touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin with three seconds left gave the Washington Commanders a 23-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in Arlington, Texas.

The Commanders (12-5) nailed down the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs and won 12 games for the first time since 1991.

Dallas (7-10) closed its season by losing four of its last five games.

Mariota kept the 11-play, 91-yard drive alive with a 33-yard carry on fourth-and-1. Three plays later, he hit McLaurin for the winning score.

Jayden Daniels played the first half and finished 6-of-12 passing for 38 yards, along with four carries for 27 yards. Mariota was 15-of-18 passing for 161 yards and two touchdowns. He also had five carries for a team-high 56 yards and a touchdown.

McLaurin had eight catches for 62 yards. Zach Ertz had five grabs for 44 yards and a touchdown.

Trey Lance, the third pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, made his first start since Sept. 18, 2022, and was 20-of-34 passing for 244 yards for the Cowboys.

Rico Dowdle had 22 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown. Jalen Tolbert caught four passes for 98 yards.

Brandon Aubrey connected on field goals of 34, 41, 36 and 22 yards for Dallas. Zane Gonzalez had a 47-yard field goal for Washington. The kickers did all the scoring in the first half as Dallas held a 6-3 lead.

After five trips to the red zone led to four field goals and a turnover on downs, Dallas finally scored a touchdown when Dowdle rumbled into the end zone from the 2-yard line. The TD gave the Cowboys a 19-16 lead with just over seven minutes left in the game.

On his first drive, Mariota led Washington on an eight-play, 70-yard touchdown drive that culminated with a 5-yard scoring pass to Ertz as the Commanders took a 10-9 lead with 5:07 left in the third.

Aubrey’s 22-yard field goal gave Dallas a 12-10 lead early in the fourth quarter. Mariota answered with a 5-yard touchdown run, capping another eight-play, 70-yard drive to put the Commanders ahead 16-12.

–Field Level Media

Oct 20, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) passes the ball against the Carolina Panthers during the first quarter at Northwest Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels (rib) labeled week-to-week

Washington Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels is “week-to-week” with a rib injury suffered early in Sunday’s victory over the Carolina Panthers, head coach Dan Quinn said Monday.

Quinn said of the injury, which he did not describe in specifics, “It’s not going to be something that’s going to knock him out for a long term.”

“The status for Jayden we’ll put down as week-to-week,” Quinn said. “We’ll take him through all the steps at practice and assess how he’s doing and keep working through that. We’re hopeful he can play, but we’ll also make sure to take every precautionary step and do it smartly for the player and the man.”

Quinn confirmed that Daniels, 23, was injured when he “fell awkwardly” at the end of a 46-yard run on the team’s first offensive play. Daniels stayed in the game to complete the series, which ended with a field goal, before he was replaced by veteran Marcus Mariota for the rest of the contest.

“He was able to finish out that drive, but it was the best call to wait it out,” Quinn said.

The host Commanders won 40-7 to improve to 5-2. Daniels finished with three rushes for 50 yards and completing both pass attempts for 6 yards.

Quinn said Daniels would not return to action until recovery is completed.

“We’re not going to miss one step of this, all the way through. It’s really important to get it right, and we will,” Quinn said. “He’s such a unique player that I want to make sure he can be him(self) full in his own way. The movement, throwing and all the stuff that would go with that.”

Daniels has started all seven games and has completed 127 of 168 passes (league-best 75.6 percent) for 1,410 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. He also has 66 rushing attempts for 372 yards (5.6 yards per carry) and four TDs and is the early favorite to be the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

The Commanders selected the last season’s Heisman Trophy winner second overall in the 2024 NFL Draft out of LSU. The top pick, quarterback Caleb Williams of Southern California, went to the Chicago Bears (4-2), who visit Washington on Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Aug 10, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota (0) looks on during the first half against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Commanders put QB Marcus Mariota on injured reserve

The Washington Commanders placed quarterback Marcus Mariota on injured reserve Saturday with a chest injury, ensuring he will miss at least the first four games of the season.

The Commanders already had announced that Mariota was set to miss the Commanders’ game against the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday after he failed to participate in his second consecutive practice Friday.

Jeff Driskel will step in as the backup to rookie Jayden Daniels against the Buccaneers.

Also on Saturday, the Commanders signed former Notre Dame and Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman off their practice squad.

Mariota, 30, was signed to a one-year, $6 million contract with Washington in the offseason.

Selected by Tennessee with the second overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft, Mariota compiled a 29-32 record as a starter for the Titans from 2015-19 and went 5-8 as the starter for the Atlanta Falcons in 2022.

Mariota completed 15 of 23 passes for 164 yards with one touchdown and one interception in three games as Jalen Hurts’ backup with the Philadelphia Eagles last season.

The 2014 Heisman Trophy winner at Oregon, Mariota has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 15,820 yards, 93 touchdowns and 55 interceptions in 90 games (74 starts) for the Titans, Las Vegas Raiders (2020-21), Falcons and Eagles.

The Commanders also elevated linebacker Nick Bellore and defensive tackle Sheldon Day from the practice squad to play in Sunday’s game in Tampa Bay.

–Field Level Media

Oct 1, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders offensive tackle Sam Cosmi (76) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Commanders sign G Sam Cosmi to 4-year extension

The Washington Commanders announced a contract extension for right guard Sam Cosmi on Wednesday.

“Here for the long haul,” the team posted on X. Multiple reports said it was a four-year extension through 2028.

Cosmi, 25, opens his fourth season with Washington on Sunday against the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

He started all 17 games in 2023 and has started 32 of 40 contests since being drafted in the second round in 2021.

–Field Level Media

Aug 17, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA;  Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) drops back to pass against the Miami Dolphins during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports

Commanders name rookie QB Jayden Daniels as starter

The Washington Commanders named rookie Jayden Daniels their starting quarterback for the season opener on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 8.

Last season’s Heisman Trophy winner at LSU, Daniels was the No. 2 overall selection in the NFL Draft behind top overall selection, quarterback Caleb Williams of Southern California who went to the Chicago Bears.

Daniels completed 72.2 percent of his passes for 3,812 yards, 40 touchdowns and four interceptions last season at LSU. He also rushed for 1,134 yards and 10 scores in 12 games.

In two preseason games, Daniels was 12-of-15 passing for 123 yards. He also has 16 yards rushing on three attempts with a touchdown.

“I thought he had another really good outing,” Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said after Daniels was 10-of-12 passing for 78 yards preseason game against the Dolphins on Saturday. “The accuracy, the decision-making of where to go. He really is a unique competitor.”

Daniels, a Los Angeles-area native who began his college career at Arizona State, helped LSU to a 10-3 record last season but did not play in the Tigers’ victory in the ReliaQuest Bowl as he prepared for the NFL Draft.

“I like competing; I’m a competitor,” Daniels said. “Regardless of if I was announced the starter or not, you still gotta compete. You still can’t be content (with) your job, (be) comfortable and think it’s just your job and seal the deal. You gotta compete.”

–Field Level Media