WAS Marcus Mariota
NFL player. Position: QB. Team: Washington Commanders.
Quick Facts
- Position: Quarterback
- Team: WAS (Washington Commanders)
- Role: Backup QB
2026 Outlook
Marcus Mariota serves as backup QB to Jayden Daniels for the Commanders. In his third season with Washington, Mariota has proven himself as a capable veteran backup—he played 11 games (8 starts) in 2025, throwing for 1,695 yards, 10 TDs, and 7 INTs, including a game-winning pass at Dallas in the regular-season finale. He has handled injuries in each of the past two training camps (2024 pectoral strain, 2025 lower leg strain) but has generally stayed available.
MCL sprain (Aug 16, 2026): Mariota suffered a sprained right MCL in Friday's preseason opener vs. Miami and will miss the remainder of the preseason exhibition games. Head coach Dan Quinn expressed optimism he'll be ready for the regular-season opener Sept. 13 at Philadelphia, though his recent injury history and the MCL nature of this strain warrant watching. The Commanders are not bringing in another QB to compete (per Commanders QB Marcus Mariota has sprained MCL).
In fantasy terms, Mariota remains not viable in standard redraft given his backup status, but his availability for potential Jayden Daniels injuries is a contingency watch item entering the season.
Role / Depth Chart
Backup quarterback behind Jayden Daniels. Athan Kaliakmanis is the third-string QB competing to lock down the QB3 spot.
Injury Status
Suffered sprained MCL (medial collateral ligament) in preseason opener vs. Miami (2026-08-15). Left game in first drive after receiving hit on pass attempt. The non-contact leg injury occurred after a 22-yard completion to Dyami Brown before he went down on the following handoff to Kaytron Allen. He appeared to grab at his knee and was able to walk off the field on his own. HC Dan Quinn expressed optimism heading into Week 2 that Mariota will be available for the regular-season opener Sept. 13 at Philadelphia (per Washington Commanders camp observations: Injury list grows, the plan for Detroit and more). Has history of knee issues throughout his 12-year career.
Recent News
- 2026-08-16 — Commanders QB Marcus Mariota has sprained MCL (Commanders QB Marcus Mariota has sprained MCL)
- 2026-08-16 — Commanders Get Bad Injury News on QB Marcus Mariota (Commanders Get Bad Injury News on QB Marcus Mariota)
- 2026-08-15 — Latest Injury News for Marcus Mariota and Bo Nix in NFL Preseason (Latest Injury News for Marcus Mariota and Bo Nix in NFL Preseason)
- 2026-08-16 — Commanders QB Marcus Mariota has sprained MCL, sources say (Commanders QB Marcus Mariota has sprained MCL, sources say)
- 2026-08-16 — Commanders injury news: Marcus Mariota reportedly suffers sprained knee (Commanders injury news: Marcus Mariota reportedly suffers sprained knee)
- 2026-08-15 — Commanders-Dolphins takeaways: Marcus Mariota exits, Robert Henry Jr. bursts onto the... (Commanders-Dolphins takeaways: Marcus Mariota exits, Robert Henry Jr. bursts onto the...)
- 2026-08-15 — Dolphins' Malik Willis has impressive start, Marcus Mariota injured as Commanders win 20-7 (Dolphins' Malik Willis has impressive start, Marcus Mariota injured as Commanders win 20-7)
- 2026-08-15 — Marcus Mariota exits NFL preseason game with apparent injury (Marcus Mariota exits NFL preseason game with apparent injury)
- 2026-06-01 — Tyler's take: Adam Peters gave Washington Commanders great depth for 2026 NFL season (Tyler's take: Adam Peters gave Washington Commanders great depth for 2026 NFL season)