Tag: Marcus Mariota

Commanders pick interesting captain for Week 13 vs. Titans

A former top pick for the Titans will serve as one of the Commanders’ Week 13 captains.

The Washington Commanders name three new captains for each game. Instead of naming permanent captains before the season, head coach Dan Quinn took the weekly approach this season to reward his players.

Washington announces the captains for the next game each Friday, and Quinn opens his final press conference of the week by discussing those captions.

The Commanders’ captains for the Week 13 game against the Tennessee Titans are quarterback Marcus Mariota, defensive tackle Sheldon Day, and longtime punter Tress Way.

Way is a former Washington captain who is having another stellar season. Day is a nine-year NFL veteran who was signed to the practice squad in August and elevated to the 53-man roster in October. Since Jonathan Allen’s season-ending injury, Day has been integral to Washington’s defensive tackle rotation.

Finally, there is Mariota. The 10-year veteran has only appeared in two games this season but shined in relief of Jayden Daniels in the Week 7 win over the Carolina Panthers. Mariota completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

Why was Mariota selected? Well, there’s no denying he’s a popular player in the locker room, respected by his teammates and has been an excellent mentor for Daniels. However, he’s also a former No. 2 overall pick for the Titans.

Mariota spent his first five NFL seasons playing for Tennessee, going 29-32 as the starting quarterback, completing 63% of his passes for 13,207 yards, 76 touchdowns, 44 interceptions and rushing for 1,399 yards and 11 touchdowns.

“So, offensively will be Marcus Mariota, defensively, it’ll be Sheldon Day and on teams, Tress Way,” Quinn said Friday. “And so, we love that part of Fridays and getting a chance to say a few words about the guys and everybody kinda gets fired up.”

Quinn didn’t say it, but it’s clear why the team picked Mariota. Mariota didn’t necessarily leave Tennessee on bad terms, this continues a trend where Washington picks players as captains facing their former teams.

Maybe this week, the Commanders can get Mariota some revenge against his former team.

Bears cornerback with some trash talk for Commanders

Bears cornerback plans on “whooping” the Commanders regardless of who plays QB.

Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson doesn’t care who lines up under center for the Washington Commanders on Sunday.

Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels injured his rib in last week’s 40-7 win over the Carolina Panthers and did not return. Marcus Mariota relieved him, completing 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

This week, Daniels did not practice on Wednesday and Thursday and was limited on Friday. The Commanders listed him as questionable for Sunday’s game vs. the Bears.

Johnson doesn’t care if it’s Mariota or Daniels because he thinks the Bears will whip Washington’s backsides either way.

Here’s Johnson, in his own words.

“Honestly, I don’t give a damn who is out there,” Johnson said Friday. “I’m looking forward to whooping their ass either way.”

Interesting words from Johnson.

The last time an opposing player talked trash before a Washington game was in Week 3 when Cincinnati cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt called offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s offense a “nice college offense.”

The Commanders took down the Bengals on Monday Night Football. Will Sunday’s game offer a similar result? You can bet head coach Dan Quinn will let his players know of Johnson’s comments.

Commanders vs. Bears: 3 reasons for optimism in Week 8

The Commanders host the Bears in Week 8 and are slight underdogs at home, but there are three reasons for optimism ahead of their matchup.

The Washington Commanders are having some kind of season in 2024, with a 5-2 record and leading the NFC East for the first time in a very long time. The offense is unified behind rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, and while the defense could use some help in a couple of areas, it’s been pretty solid, too.

This week, the Commanders host a Chicago Bears team that is hell-bent on proving Caleb Williams is better than Daniels. He’s not. The Bears lost to a horrible Indianapolis Colts team in Week 3, and he struggled mightily with the Tennessee Titans in Week 1. Williams has improved over the last few weeks, but the Bears have also faced the Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers the last two weeks, so do with that what you will.

The Commanders’ quarterback situation is up in the air, but that’s no reason to be concerned. In fact, there are three reasons for optimism in Week 8.

Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Marcus Mariota is a capable veteran

When Jayden Daniels went down early in the game against the Carolina Panthers, Marcus Mariota stepped in and got the job done, leading the Commanders to a dominant 40-7 victory. He’s been in the league for almost 10 years, so he knows the game very well. He can use his legs when needed, makes accurate throws, and knows how to lead an offense.

The Bears have a much better defense than the Panthers, but if Kliff Kingsbury calls the right plays, Mariota will execute them. And this is only if Daniels doesn’t suit up; it’s still possible that he will play on Sunday.

Peter van den Berg-Imagn Images

The Bears are 0-2 on the road

Both of the Bears’ losses this season have come on the road, at Houston and Indianapolis. The Texans are well on their way to making a postseason appearance. The Colts look refreshed behind veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, but it’s unlikely they will go far sharing the division with the Texans.

And don’t forget, Williams’ NFL debut was almost ruined by the Titans in Week 1. His only saving grace was the defensive and special teams efforts to put points on the board.

The Commanders’ defense will still have its work cut out for it, but all they have to do is fluster Williams, and the Bears’ offense will crumble. They have the fifth-worst rush offense and ninth-worst pass offense in the league, and they’ve allowed 20 sacks, but the Commanders can’t go in cocky. Their defense has its struggles, and it needs to set the tone early so that it shows up to play.

Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images

Washington has an X-Factor

His name hasn’t been called as much this season as in the past, but Austin Ekeler is the X-factor everyone has forgotten. He can run the ball, he can catch the ball, he is a ridiculously talented utility player who can do just about anything you ask him to on the field. It’s not just Brian Robinson, Jr. and Terry McLaurin out there as weapons for the quarterback.

Ekeler joined the Commanders earlier this year, and he’s recorded 32 carries for 188 yards and a touchdown, plus 17 receptions for 201 yards. He averages 5.9 yards per carry and 11.8 yards per reception. Against a tough Bears defense, Ekeler can be a game-changer.

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Dan Quinn says Commanders ‘hopeful’ Jayden Daniels can play vs. Bears

Quinn “hopeful” Jayden Daniels can play in Week 8.

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said after Sunday’s game he’d give more information on quarterback Jayden Daniels’ injury on Monday when he met with the media.

Daniels, who injured his rib in Sunday’s 40-7 win over the Carolina Panthers, played the first series and did not return. Veteran Marcus Mariota replaced Daniels and completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

However, fans were concerned about Daniels. His mother posted on X during the game that Daniels was fine. Other reports have indicated that Daniels did not fracture a rib.

Quinn gave the latest update on Monday afternoon, saying that Daniels was “week to week,” and the Commanders were “hopeful” that he could play in Week 8 vs. Chicago Bears. Quinn insisted that Washington would exercise caution with Daniels to protect him.

Quinn said that Daniels would not be wearing any additional padding and that the injury was more of a freak situation due to him landing awkwardly.

At 5-2, the Commanders are in first place in the NFC East and face the 4-2 Bears. The game was moved from the traditional 1 p.m. ET kick to the 4:25 kickoff in Week 8 due to the much-anticipated matchup between the top two players from the 2024 NFL draft (Caleb Williams and Daniels).

 

Veteran OT says Commanders feel ‘untouchable, unstoppable’

The veteran OT says the Commanders feel “untouchable, unstoppable.”

The vibes surrounding the Washington Commanders are high. On Sunday, Washington defeated the Carolina Panthers 40-7, but they lost rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels after the first possession.

Veteran Marcus Mariota relieved Daniels and, after a slow start, looked as good as he had in years, completing 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns.

Sure, Carolina is arguably the NFL’s worst team, but previous versions of the Commanders couldn’t do what the 2024 version did on Sunday. One player who has been around a while understands there’s something different about the 2024 Commanders.

Veteran left tackle Cornelius Lucas is an 11-year NFL veteran with Washington since 2020. After Sunday’s win, Lucas was asked how he felt about the Commanders.

“Feels different,” Lucas said. “Feels a lot different from the other previous four seasons I was here. Feel untouchable, unstoppable, especially after losing 5 (Daniels) and seeing Marcus come in and pick up right where he left off.”

Why does Lucas think the Commanders are playing so well right now?

“Everything,” he responded. “The changes from top to bottom. The mentality from top to bottom. Can’t really put my finger on one thing. I feel it’s the entire program, the entire setup.”

It’s special to hear these quotes from battle-tested veterans like Lucas. Lucas had the opportunity to head elsewhere in the offseason but chose to return to the Commanders under the new regime. He’s now an integral part to one of the NFL’s best offensive lines.

 

What was Terry McLaurin’s favorite part of Commanders’ latest win?

Commanders WR Terry McLaurin sets a new standard.

Terry McLaurin is in his sixth NFL season and having the time of his life. After playing through numerous coaching changes, lots of losing, and countless quarterback changes, the Washington Commanders are finally winning.

The Commanders have also found a franchise quarterback. Jayden Daniels has finally ended Washington’s longtime search for a quarterback.

On Sunday, the Commanders improved to 5-2 after defeating the Carolina Panthers 40-7, remaining in first place in the NFC East. But, Washington didn’t leave Sunday without some concerns.

Daniels was injured on the Commanders’ first drive when he landed awkwardly after a 46-yard run. While he finished the drive, Washington wisely removed him from the game and sent him into the locker room for X-rays. Daniels injured his rib and was questionable to return.

Enter Marcus Mariota. The 10-year veteran took over under center and led the Commanders to scores on every one of his drives except one. With Washington so far ahead, Daniels was ruled out and finished the game on the sideline.

McLaurin, who caught six passes for 98 yards, spoke about Daniels’ injury after the game.

“Yeah, you know, he’s a tough player, so if he’s going down and going into the locker room, it’s, you know, fairly serious,” McLaurin said. “I’m not going to, like, speculate on his injury, but he’s a tough guy and I know he’s going to do whatever it takes to try to be ready for next week.”

McLaurin then praised Mariota for stepping in and delivering.

Finally, McLaurin revealed what he was most proud of coming out of Sunday’s game.

“So, I think my favorite part of the game was us to go down and score in a two-minute drive,” McLaurin said. “When you don’t have your starting quarterback, but you still execute at a high level, I think that’s a standard that we’re set for our offense. No matter who’s in there, the expectation and the production doesn’t drop. So, I’m happy to see that he came in here and did what he did, but I didn’t expect anything different.”

Gone are the days of the Commanders struggling to score 20 points. This is currently the NFL’s highest-scoring team, and they didn’t panic or fold when they lost their star quarterback. It was a business-as-usual approach with Mariota under center.

Coaching, scheme, and talent are all a part of the Commanders’ current offensive success. But so is mindset. And there is no better player than McLaurin to help Washington set a new standard of excellence each week where there are no excuses if that standard isn’t met.

What everyone said after the Commanders’ Week 7 rout of Panthers

Here’s what everyone said after the Commanders’ blowout win over the Panthers.

On Sunday, the Washington Commanders were much better than the Carolina Panthers, running away from them in a 40-7 rout. Here is a collection of postgame quotes from players, analysts, coaches, and media personalities.

Craig Hoffman

“Well, that was fun, wasn’t it? Well, maybe. The score, that was fun. But, a big ‘but’ with the Jayden Daniels injury.”

“Dante Fowler gets that pick-6 and I was literally like, ‘I can throw my not pad away.’ There was no point in the notes of this game. The game ended right there. Because from that point, Carolina was going to be chasing the game.”

Danny Rouhier

“I’m happy but there is also something missing, you know?”

“I don’t feel euphoric here after a blowout win. We usually tell people to smell the roses because they don’t come around all that often. Taking advantage of a bad opponent, you don’t apologize for who is on your schedule. You handle them the way Washington just did.”

Marcus Mariota

“When you have a brotherhood like this, you’ll find ways to win.”

“Obviously, it’s going to take some time, whatever it is. We have no idea, but I think he was in good spirits. You check on him, see how he is doing. And then we will take it day to day.”

Austin Ekeler

“He’s (Mariota) been a great leader for us, and he went out there and showed it again.”

Zach Ertz

“Obviously my first thought was just concerned about him (Jayden Daniels). He’s the leader of our team essentially and he’s a phenomenal player. He’s going to be a great player for a long time, and he’s really a good friend of mine. I was obviously just worried about him. From there, you just gotta get back out there and play.”

“We got a lot of confidence in Marcus. They didn’t bring him here just to be a backup. They brought him in here to compete with Jayden obviously. We got a lot of confidence in Marcus.”

Dan Quinn

“The message for this week was, ‘Can we get stronger’? We knew there was another gear for us to find. We had to dig for it and find it. I was pleased to see the fight in the guys. I thought Dante’s touchdown was really the thing that set it off.”

“I cannot give you an update on Jayden. I will just as soon as we find out. We’ll do some further tests tomorrow. Then, when we get together in the afternoon, we’ll give you an update.”

“You know what? I was really proud of Marcus (Mariota). It’s been a tough start, IR and getting an injury. For him to come back and see that kind of poise in the game, there was no flinch.”

“I look back to see post-practice to see who is out there working, and he and the guys are going through the script. I tip my hat to he and Tavita, David Blough and others that are spending that extra time. So, if your moment gets called you are ready to deliver for the team. I  think that is a really powerful thing.”

Sam Fortier

“Dan Quinn said he didn’t have an update, said he would have one Monday. His (Daniels) status going forward is the biggest thing for this organization.”

“The offense kept rolling without him (Daniels). Kliff Kingsbury was cooking. The Panthers defense was very depleted…”

“They (Commanders) are demolishing bad teams. Yes, the five teams they have beaten so far have a combined record of 9-25. But it is still the NFL. I think it says something when you are taking care of business to this degree.”

 

Marcus Mariota on playing for the Commanders: ‘It’s the best place to work’

Mariota with high praise for the Commanders’ organization.

The Washington Commanders are rolling right now. On Sunday, the Commanders defeated the Carolina Panthers 40-7 in a game where rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels was injured in the first quarter and did not return.

No problem, says veteran backup Marcus Mariota.

Daniels injured his rib on Washington’s first possession. While his mother tweeted later that he was fine, the Commanders wisely kept Daniels out of the game and allowed the 10-year veteran Mariota to guide the offense.

How did Mariota respond?

Mariota completed 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 34 yards and led the Commanders to scoring drives on all but one possession — his first.

After the game, Mariota spoke with Evan Washburn of CBS.

“First and foremost, just him,” Mariota said of Jayden Daniels and what he thought when he first entered the game. “He’s an unbelievable kid. You just about the player and person and then it’s just football.”

How was Mariota so effective?

“These guys are unbelievable,” Mariota said of his teammates. We have an awesome group of guys that just believe in each other. They made play after play, and I just did my best to give them a chance.”

Then, Mariota had the ultimate praise for the Commanders and the culture that owner Josh Harris, GM Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn are building.

“It’s brotherhood. We talk about it all the time. Honestly, it’s the best place to work. I enjoy going in with these guys. It’s a lot of fun, and when you have a brotherhood like this, you’ll find ways to win.”

The Washington Commanders: The best place to work? That’s good news for those NFLPA grades that will come out later this year. Remember what Harris said? “I’m not an F-minus guy.” No, he isn’t, and neither are the Commanders anymore.

Commanders vs. Panthers: Best photos from Week 7

We look at some of the best images from the Commanders’ win over the Panthers.

The Washington Commanders improved to 5-2 on Sunday with a 40-7 win over the Carolina Panthers from Northwest Stadium.

Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels left the game with a rib injury in the first quarter. Marcus Mariota replaced him, completing 18 of 23 passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. rushed for 71 yards and scored a touchdown in his return.

The Commanders’ defense held the Panthers 180 and forced two turnovers.

Here are some of the best photos from Washington’s latest win.

Commanders Dan Quinn offers no update on Jayden Daniels

Dan Quinn doesn’t have an update on QB Jayden Daniels yet.

Washington Commanders fans were nervous early in Sunday’s game against the Carolina Panthers. After a 46-yard run on Washington’s first drive, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared to be in pain.

Daniels would finish the drive but then went to the locker room for what the team called a rib injury. Washington said he was questionable to return. The Commanders held a 10-0 lead when Daniels departed the game.

Marcus Mariota relieved Daniels, and while struggling on his first drive, he quickly got hot and led Washington on multiple scoring drives, including a touchdown before halftime to make it 27-0. Once the third quarter began, the Commanders ruled Daniels out.

Daniels came back onto the field during the third quarter as fans cheered. A positive sign, right? He also appeared in good spirits for the remainder of the game. After Washington defeated Carolina 40-7, Quinn offered the following update on Daniels:

“I cannot give you an update on Jayden, but I will just as soon as we find out,” Quinn said. “We’ll do some further tests tomorrow and then when we get together in the afternoon, we’ll give you an update. But I don’t have anything for everybody else asking the same thing; same answer. So, just wanted to make sure I was super clear on that.”

Quinn will speak to the media on Monday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. ET.

However, Daniels’ mother tweeted during Sunday’s game that her son was “fine.”

ESPN NFL insider Jeremy Fowler offered another positive update on Washington’s star rookie.

The Commanders will play it extra safe with Daniels. It will be difficult to keep him out of next week’s game against the Bears, but if he’s not 100%, Washington will go with Mariota. Quinn understands that there’s nothing more important to the franchise than Daniels’ short and long-term health.