Tag: Marcus Mariota

Commanders lead Panthers 27-0 at halftime

Commanders are up big after 30 minutes.

The Washington Commanders lead the Carolina Panthers 27-0 at halftime of their Week 7 meeting from Northwest Stadium.

The Commanders kicked off the scoring when linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. intercepted Carolina quarterback Andy Dalton and returned it 67 yards for a touchdown. It was his third career touchdown.

When the Commanders finally got the ball on offense, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels ripped off the longest run of his NFL career, going 46 yards into Panthers’ territory. However, he appeared to have some sort of stomach injury but finished the drive.

Daniels would head into the locker room, where he’d undergo an X-Ray for what the Commanders called a rib injury. He is questionable to return.

Marcus Mariota relieved Daniels, and while he looked rusty on his first two drives, he engineered an eight-play, 92-yard drive with a little over two minutes remaining in the first half that he finished with a touchdown pass to tight end Zach Ertz to give Washington a 27-0 lead.

Running back Brian Robinson Jr. also scored for the Commanders and rushed for 53 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Mariota completed five of nine passes for 75 yards and a touchdown. Daniels rushed for 50 yards on three carries.

Washington will receive the ball to open the second half.

 

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels departs game, questionable to return

Jayden Daniels questionable to return.

Things started fast for the Washington Commanders on Sunday from Northwest Stadium. Washington began the game on defense against the Carolina Panthers. While Carolina moved the ball to around midfield, Commanders linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. intercepted quarterback Andy Dalton and returned it 67 yards for a touchdown.

When the Commanders finally got the ball on offense, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels had his longest NFL rush, going for 46 yards across midfield. However, Daniels appeared to be a bit uncomfortable when he got up.

He’d finish the drive, running twice more, but after Washington kicked a field goal, Daniels went into the locker room for an X-Ray. Daniels suffered a rib injury.

Here’s the run where it appeared Daniels was injured.

The Commanders have listed Daniels as questionable to return.

Marcus Mariota is in for Daniels at quarterback.

Watch: Ravens star Derrick Henry excited to see Commanders’ QB

Derrick Henry couldn’t contain his excitement in seeing his former teammate after Sunday’s game.

Derrick Henry spent the first eight seasons of his NFL career with the Tennessee Titans. In the offseason, Tennessee allowed the future Hall of Famer to walk, and he signed a two-year deal with the Baltimore Ravens.

Henry’s signing looks like one of the smartest moves of last offseason. Henry leads the NFL in rushing at 30 years old and doesn’t appear to be slowing down. On Sunday, Henry rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the 4-1 Commanders.

After the game, Henry exchanged pleasantries with several Washington players, including linebacker Frankie Luvu and running back Jeremy McNichols. But the player Henry was most excited to see was the Commanders’ backup quarterback, Marcus Mariota.

Why Mariota?

Henry shared the backfield in Tennessee with Mariota for the first four seasons of his career. The two former Heisman Trophy winners remain close, as shown in the following video.

Henry and the Ravens defeated Washington 30-23, as Henry is on pace for the second 2,000-yard rushing season of his outstanding career.

Commanders re-sign QB Sam Hartman to practice squad

Sam Hartman is back.

That didn’t last long. On Saturday, the Washington Commanders re-signed rookie quarterback Sam Hartman to the practice squad, two days after waiving him from the 53-man roster.

This always seemed like the move the Commanders would make. Before releasing Hartman from the 53-man roster, Washington released defensive end Justin Hollins from the practice squad, clearing a spot for Hartman’s return.

Hartman, who had a standout career at Wake Forest and Notre Dame, signed with the Commanders as a priority free agent at the conclusion of the 2024 NFL draft. During the cutdown to 53 players, Washington waived Hartman but quickly re-signed him to the practice squad. The Commanders signed him to the main roster ahead of Week 1 when it was revealed that veteran Marcus Mariota would begin the season on the reserve/injured list.

Hartman served as Washington’s third quarterback behind Jayden Daniels and Jeff Driskel for the first four games. Mariota returned last week, and the Commanders didn’t need four quarterbacks.

With Hartman returning to the practice squad, Washington can still develop him as a potential future backup to Daniels.

Commanders release rookie quarterback ahead of Week 6 vs. Ravens

The Commanders make a move at QB after Mariota’s return.

The Washington Commanders carried two rookie quarterbacks on their roster for the first few weeks of the season while veteran Marcus Mariota was sidelined. Mariota returned last week as the backup to rookie sensation Jayden Daniels.

On Thursday, Washington released its other rookie quarterback, Sam Hartman, leaving the Commanders with three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. Veteran Jeff Driskel is Washington’s No. 3 quarterback.

The Commanders signed Hartman as a priority undrafted free agent after a standout career at Wake Forest and Notre Dame. Hartman played in the first preseason game before suffering an injury that forced him to miss the final two preseason games.

Hartman was released during Washington’s final cutdown to 53 players but was quickly re-signed to the practice squad. However, when the Commanders placed Mariota on the reserve/injured list, they signed Hartman to the 53-man roster to serve as the No. 3 quarterback behind Daniels and Driskel.

It would not be surprising if Hartman quickly returned to Washington’s practice squad. The Commanders released defensive end Justin Hollins from the practice squad on Tuesday.

 

Marcus Mariota in at quarterback for the Commanders

Jayden Daniels is fine.

The Washington Commanders are dominating the Cleveland Browns so badly that they chose to sit starting quarterback Jayden Daniels with almost 13 minutes remaining in the game.

Up 34-6 with 12 minutes and 45 seconds remaining, Washington head coach Dan Quinn turned to Marcus Mariota at quarterback for the remainder of Sunday’s Week 5 meeting.

Daniels completed 14 of 25 passes for 238 yards with one interception and one touchdown. He also carried the ball 11 times for 82 yards. It wasn’t the best start for Daniels, who threw a red-zone interception early in the first half. Fortunately for Daniels, Washington’s defense shut down the Browns and got the ball back for the offense.

Outside of that, Daniels played well against a tough Cleveland defense.

Mariota was active for the first time Sunday after Washington activated him from the reserve/injured list after he suffered a pectoral injury in training camp.

The Commanders are 3-1 and cruising toward 4-1, and they’ll face the Baltimore Ravens next week.

Commanders’ Week 5 inactive list vs. Browns

Darrick Forrest is active for the first time this season.

The Washington Commanders released their inactive list ahead of the Week 5 contest with the Cleveland Browns and it contained two quarterbacks. Veteran Marcus Mariota was activated from the reserve/injured list Saturday, leaving Washington with four quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.

With Mariota healthy, he returns as the backup to Jayden Daniels, leaving four quarterbacks on the roster — for now. That likely changes next week. Also on the Week 5 inactive list is wide receiver Noah Brown, a key contributor over the last three games.

Here’s the full inactive list:

  • QB Sam Hartman
  • QB Jeff Driskel
  • WR Noah Brown
  • G Chris Paul
  • LB Dominique Hampton
  • S Tyler Owens
  • DE Clelin Ferrell

With the rookie Owens sidelined, Darrick Forrest is active for the first time this season. This is the third consecutive game that Ferrell has missed after he picked up a sack in each of the Commanders’ first two games.

Here is Cleveland’s Week 5 inactive list:

The most significant names on this list are right tackle Jack Conklin and linebacker Jordan Hicks.

Three injured Commanders on the way back

Three injured players could be on their way back for the Commanders.

The 3-1 Washington Commanders host the Cleveland Browns on Sunday and could be getting some reinforcements.

The Commanders opened the 21-day practice window for three players who began the season on the reserve/injured list: Quarterback Marcus Mariota, linebacker Jordan Magee and defensive lineman Efe Obada.

Jeff Driskel has been serving as Jayden Daniels’ backup, while Sam Hartman was signed from the practice squad to be the No. 3 quarterback. Once Mariota is activated, Hartman will likely return to the practice squad.

Magee, the fifth-round rookie from Temple, drew rave reviews from coaches and teammates throughout the offseason and training camp before suffering a preseason knee injury. He would become Bobby Wagner’s backup.

Obada, the veteran who has spent the past two seasons with the Commanders, returned on a one-year deal. Obada suffered a gruesome leg injury late last season. He would give the Commanders solid depth and versatility as he can play tackle or end.

Washington has 21 days from Wednesday to either activate the three players or place them on season-ending injured reserve.

In another move from Wednesday, the Commanders placed veteran wide receiver Jamison Crowder on the reserve/injured list.

Commanders place QB Marcus Mariota on IR, promote Sam Hartman to 53-man roster

Mariota to IR, Hartman to the 53 and other moves for the Commanders ahead of Week 1.

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota has been injured since his appearance in the Week 1 preseason game against the New York Jets. On Saturday, one day before the season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Commanders placed Mariota on injured reserve.

Mariota missed practice on Thursday and Friday, with the team ruling him out for Sunday’s game. Veteran Jeff Driskel will serve as rookie Jayden Daniels’ backup. In another corresponding move, Washington promoted rookie quarterback Sam Hartman from the practice squad.

Mariota must remain on IR for at least four weeks.

On Friday, head coach Dan Quinn said the following about Mariota’s injury:

“Yes. So, I would say he strained a pec, his chest, and so I would say right now he’s unlikely,” Quinn said.

Mariota played one series against the Jets. Shortly after, the Commanders officially named Daniels the starting quarterback, which was the plan once coaches believed Daniels had earned it.

In other moves, the Commanders also elevated defensive tackle Sheldon Day and linebacker Nick Bellore from the practice squad. Both are veterans, and Bellore will be promoted for his work on special teams.

Washington and Tampa Bay are scheduled for a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday at Raymond James Stadium.

Commanders’ final injury report for Week 1

The final injury for Week 1. Mariota is out for Sunday.

The Washington Commanders wrapped up preparations for their Week 1 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday, and they could be without two players.

Veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota didn’t practice for the second consecutive day with a pec injury. Mariota was limited on Wednesday and missed practice on Thursday and Friday.

So, I would say he strained a pec, his chest, and so I would say right now he’s unlikely,” head coach Dan Quinn said Friday.

Also, rookie defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton missed his second consecutive practice. Quinn offered the following on Newton’s potential availability.

“We’re not gonna rule him out, we’re gonna take him into Sunday,” he said. “And in doing that, we’re working through the D-Tackle. But it was good to get him some team reps today and feel into that. So, haven’t ruled him out, but we’re still gonna work him on Sunday as well.”

Mariota is ruled out for Sunday, and Newton is doubtful. Everyone else is set to play.

Here’s the final injury report for Week 1:

Did not participate: QB Marcus Mariota (chest)

Limited participants: DT Jer’Zhan Newton (foot)

Full participants: DT Daron Payne (back), OT Trent Scott (knee), OT Brandon Coleman (shoulder), DE Clelin Ferrell (knee), OLB Dante Fowler Jr. (knee)