Washington Commanders Lose Marcus Mariota to Injury in London

The Washington Commanders faced a significant setback as they lost their starting quarterback, Marcus Mariota, to an injury while playing against the Indianapolis Colts in the United Kingdom. Mariota suffered a knee injury when Colts defensive lineman Laiatu Latu tackled him during a sack.

Initially, the Commanders stated Mariota was questionable to return due to a right knee issue. However, he was ruled out after the halftime break. This incident took place during the Commanders’ matchup against the Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in England on October 4, 2026.

According to Dr. David Chao, a medical expert from OutKick and former chief doctor for the San Diego Chargers, Mariota may have sustained an MCL injury. Given Mariota’s history with a previous MCL surgery in 2022, concerns about his return are heightened. Despite hopes to see Mariota back with a brace, his non-return confirmed the severity of the injury.

Mariota started this game because Jayden Daniels, the team’s primary quarterback, was out with a dislocated left elbow. Daniels suffered his injury during a game against the Dallas Cowboys on September 20. Daniels returned to practice on a limited basis recently, and the team is optimistic about his participation in the Week 5 game against the New York Giants.

With Mariota sidelined, rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis stepped in. Kaliakmanis was selected in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft by Washington following his college years at Minnesota and Rutgers. The Commanders are relying on him to make a positive impact in Mariota’s absence.