Veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota is projected to start for the Washington Commanders for an undetermined period after second-year pro Jayden Daniels suffered a left elbow dislocation in Sunday’s 38-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Daniels was gruesomely injured while bracing himself on a tackle to the ground with his team trailing 38-7 with 7:39 remaining.
Mariota, a Saint Louis School graduate in his 11th NFL season, has started three games in place of Daniels for other injuries this season and stepped in midgame in two more. He has completed 63.6% of his throws this year with four touchdowns against four interceptions, plus one rushing touchdown. Washington (3-6) is 1-2 in his starts.
The Commanders, a surprise participant in last year’s NFC championship game, have lost four straight and have eight games remaining in the season. They host the Detroit Lions (5-3) on Sunday in a rematch of last year’s divisional round playoff game.
Coach Dan Quinn expressed contrition for not pulling Daniels from the game sooner in a press conference Monday.
“I missed it. … That was 100% on me,” Quinn said.
He said there is no timetable for Daniels’ return, with a possible update on Wednesday or Thursday.
“That’ll knock him out for a while, for sure,” he added. He said there are no immediate plans to bring in another quarterback beyond Mariota, Josh Johnson and practice QB Sam Hartman.