Tag: Marcus Mariota

Commanders injury report: Marcus Mariota misses practice on Thursday

Thursday’s injury report featured two players who did not participate.

The Washington Commanders continued preparations for Sunday’s Week 1 encounter with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday. For a second consecutive day this week, the Commanders were without backup quarterback Marcus Mariota and rookie defensive tackle Jer’Zhan “Johnny” Newton.

Mariota’s status was downgraded from limited to DNP on Thursday. This doesn’t mean his status for Sunday’s opener is in doubt, as head coach Dan Quinn could feel comfortable with the 10-year veteran continuing as Jayden Daniels’ backup despite missing practice time.

Newton was limited on Wednesday and missed Thursday’s practice. However, his designation was NIR (non-injury related), as Washington continues to use precautions with Newton and his surgically repaired feet.

Here’s Thursday’s full practice report.

Did not participate: QB Marcus Mariota (chest), DT Jer’Zhan Newton (foot/NIR)

Limited participants: N/A

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

 

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels perfectly describes his emotions ahead of 1st NFL start

Jayden Daniels has perfect answer regarding Week 1. He also has good things to say about Sam Cosmi and Marcus Mariota.

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will make his NFL debut on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It’s technically his third start, but the first two were in the preseason. On Sunday, it’s for real.

The No. 2 overall pick had a terrific training camp and preseason. Daniels impressed his coaches, teammates, and those from other teams in Washington’s two joint practices. While no one can predict what happens before the game, the Commanders know Daniels is ready.

How would Daniels describe his emotions ahead of Week 1?

“It is really the same,” Daniels said on Wednesday. “Day by day, be where my feet are. Not really focused on Sunday. I got to get through Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and then it’ll be game day.”

Daniels always seemingly says the right thing. That’s the perfect answer, even if you know his emotions are all over the place as he starts his first official NFL game.

Before Daniels met with the media on Wednesday, he and the team received some good news. Fourth-year guard Sam Cosmi received a contract extension, making him one of the NFL’s highest-paid guards. Daniels was thrilled for his teammate.

“Man, Sam deserves it,” Daniels said. “Happy for him. Obviously, we heard the news earlier, but he deserves it. It is gonna be, it is good for him and his family. It’s good for us long term to have a player like that, a cornerstone piece moving forward.”

For Sunday’s game, Daniels’s first start will be challenging, as he will face Tampa Bay head coach Todd Bowles’ defense. The good news for Daniels is that his backup/mentor, Marcus Mariota, is there to assist in every way possible.

“Man, I’m leaning on Marcus a ton,” the rookie said of Mariota. “He is in the same position as me. He played Todd Bowles numerous times, so obviously has a lot of knowledge of this is what you can expect. Obviously, everybody talks about the blitzes. Obviously, we’re gonna expect some type of blitz, but his main message to me is, ‘Man, just go out there and have fun.’ Don’t put too much stress into it.”

Some have questioned why Mariota is even on the team. He only played one series in the preseason and didn’t look great. However, the Commanders brought him in because they knew Mariota would be content as a backup, but he could also offer Daniels a perspective that no other potential veteran backup could give. Both are former Heisman winners and No. 2 overall picks. And, coincidentally enough, Mariota’s first NFL start came against Tampa Bay back in 2015.

How’d he do? Mariota completed 13 of 15 passes for 209 yards, with four touchdowns. Can you imagine if Daniels has a similar performance?

 

Commanders Mike Sainristil has a new number, so does Marcus Mariota

Mike Sainristil’s new number is Marcus Mariota’s old number.

Remember when rookie cornerback Mike Sainristil wore the No. 2 jersey in the spring? There was no issue with Sainristil wearing the No. 2, except that number already belonged to wide receiver Dyami Brown.

While players can share a number in the offseason, it changes once rosters are finalized for the regular season. On Tuesday, Washington finalized its initial 53-man roster, with Sainristil and Brown making the club.

Someone would need to change. Brown, entering his fourth season, has seniority, so he remains No. 2, while Sainristil switches to No. 0.

The person who previously wore 0, quarterback Marcus Mariota, also made a switch. Mariota goes from 0 to No. 18.

Here’s Mariota in his new number:

As for Sainristil, here he is in his new number:

That Sainristil jersey should be a big-time seller. The rookie cornerback from Michigan had an outstanding training camp and is already a starter.

Derrick Henry’s famous 99-yard run only happened because of flubbed play-call

Former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur revealed that Derrick Henry’s 99-yard TD run was supposed to be a QB sneak.

Derrick Henry’s career with the Tennessee Titans had no shortage of memorable moments. The King could break a long run at any given moment in the game while delivering punishing stiff arms along the way.

Henry’s 53-yarder in the 2019 season against the Houston Texans gave him the rushing title. He had a 68-yard scamper against the Chiefs that same year, a 72-yard rushing touchdown against the Colts in 2017, and an iconic 99-yard touchdown run against the Jaguars in 2018 immediately come to mind.

However, the latter almost never happened.

Former Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, who has been the head coach of the Green Bay Packers since the 2019 season, revealed that Henry’s 99-yard run was actually supposed to be a quarterback sneak.

“Full disclosure here: I had actually called a quarterback sneak can to the run or vice versa,” said LaFleur, whose Packers will go up against Henry and the Baltimore Ravens in their preseason finale this weekend. “There was an open A-gap. I’ll never forget.

“I’m like, ‘We’re going to run the quarterback sneak,’ and (Marcus Mariota) handed the ball off. My initial thought was, ‘What are we doing?’ until (Henry) broke about seven tackles on the way to a 99-yard run.”

Henry, of course, signed with the Ravens after spending the first eight years of his career with the Titans. During that time, the former Heisman Trophy winner racked up 2,030 carries and 9,502 rushing yards, both second-most in franchise history.

However, Henry’s 90 career rushing touchdowns were by far the most in Titans/Oilers history.

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Commanders officially name Jayden Daniels the starting quarterback

It’s official.

Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn finally made it official. At the beginning of his Monday afternoon press conference, Quinn named rookie Jayden Daniels the starting quarterback.

The move was expected from the moment Washington selected Daniels at No. 2 overall in April’s 2024 NFL draft. However, Quinn and general manager Adam Peters made it clear from the moment they selected Daniels that they had a specific plan for his development that they would not deviate from.

Early in training camp, Daniels and veteran Marcus Mariota split first-team reps. By the second week in training camp, Daniels had begun to take the majority of those reps. Throughout camp, Daniels consistently outperformed Mariota.

In two preseason games, Daniels has completed 12 of 15 passes for 123 yards and a rushing touchdown. Since arriving in April, he’s earned praise from his coaches and teammates and impressed everyone around the NFL.

Quinn was not ready to disclose if Daniels would play in next week’s final preseason game.

Trace McSorley excited to play for his hometown Commanders

McSorley excited to play for his hometown team.

The Washington Commanders didn’t need to look for quarterback depth this week. With veteran Marcus Mariota and rookie Sam Hartman sidelined for Washington’s Week 2 preseason game, the Commanders signed Ashburn, Virginia native Trace McSorley.

After a record-setting career at Briar Woods High School, where he won two state championships, he went on to Penn State, starting for three seasons, and broke several school records.

The Ravens selected McSorley in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft, where he spent three seasons. Since his time with Baltimore ended, McSorley has spent time with the Cardinals, Patriots, Bears and Steelers. It was his time in Arizona where he played for current Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.

McSorley was with the Commanders on Thursday for their joint practice with the Dolphins, where he spoke about joining his hometown team.

“It’s exciting, obviously when I was a kid, I grew up going to training camp, practices, and things of that nature, followed the team, so being back in the area, being familiar, a place I used to drive by all the time as a kid and look at in awe,” McSorley said. “So, yesterday me pulling up and walking in for the first time was pretty cool.”

McSorley understands this is an audition and nothing is guaranteed, but he’s determined to make the most of his opportunity, whether it’s in Washington or for one of the NFL’s other 31 teams.

Commanders QB Jayden Daniels now taking most of 1st-team reps

Jayden Daniels is now taking most of the first-team reps.

It was only a matter of time before Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels seized the starting position. While that hasn’t happened yet, Daniels has taken the majority of first-team reps over the past two days of practice.

Through the first week of training camp, veteran Marcus Mariota split first-team reps with Daniels, often going first in team sessions. While Daniels has outperformed Mariota, head coach Dan Quinn has refused to name him the starting quarterback.

Why? It’s all about Washington’s plan for Daniels, which they are sticking with.

“So, as we are going, when he is ready, we’ll know,” Quinn said last week. “When he’s ready, he’ll also know.”

Daniels does not mind, understanding he’s a rookie and wants to earn the job.

“No, I like competing; I’m a competitor,” Daniels answered. “So, regardless of if I was announced the starter or not, you still got to compete. You still can’t be content with your job, comfortable, think it’s just your job, and seal the deal. You got to go out there and compete.”

Could you even script a better answer?

Daniels has had a phenomenal training camp, while the Commanders have tried to downplay it to keep expectations in check. It’s too late. Daniels has rejuvenated Washington’s fan base. The hype is real.

It’s a good move to increase Daniels’ first-team reps ahead of next week’s joint practice with the New York Jets.

For once, it’s good to see the Commanders sticking with a plan.

WATCH: Commanders TE Cole Turner makes acrobatic catch in practice

Cole Turner is battling for a spot on the 53 and plays like this will help his chances.

Washington Commanders tight end Cole Turner is in his third NFL training camp this summer. As a rookie fifth-round pick in 2022, Turner jumped out to a fast start in his first training camp, but an injury ruined things.

Turner returned, but it was too late to make an impact during his rookie season. He appeared in 10 games and caught two passes for 23 yards. A concussion cost Turner more time that season. Turner played in 12 games last season, catching 11 passes for 120 yards.

This offseason, new Washington general manager Adam Peters set out to rebuild the tight end position. The Commanders released Logan Thomas and signed Zach Ertz. Then, Peters would use a second-round pick on Ben Sinnott.

This offseason is now or never for Turner in Washington. One week into training camp, he appears up to the task. During Thursday’s practice, check out this catch Turner made on a throw from quarterback Marcus Mariota.

These are the types of plays Washington has been wanting from Turner. He is competing with Ertz, Sinnott, John Bates, Armani Rogers and undrafted rookie Colson Yankoff for three or four spots. Ertz, Sinnott and Bates are safe. Turner is likely battling fellow third-year tight end Armani Rogers for a spot on Washington’s 53-man roster.

Turner needs a strong camp to make the team, but if he continues to show his athleticism and playmaking ability, he’ll land somewhere.

WATCH: Commanders QBs react to Jayden Daniels wearing an old Marcus Mariota jersey

Daniels and Mariota react to photo of Daniels wearing Mariota’s old Titans’ jersey.

Washington Commanders quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota have a lot in common. Mariota once won the Heisman Trophy and was the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft.

Nine years later, Daniels accomplished both feats.

So, it comes as no surprise that Daniels was once a big fan of his now teammate and mentor. An old photo surfaced recently of Daniels with his mother, wearing an old Mariota Tennessee Titans jersey. The Titans used the No. 2 pick on Mariota in 2015, and he spent his first five seasons there.

At training camp this week, Washington’s social media accounts caught up with both quarterbacks to get their reaction to the old photo.

Mariota, 30, is only seven years older than the 23-year-old Daniels but is in his 10th NFL season — and fifth NFL team. He’s now the grizzled old veteran, so being called old didn’t faze him. Both Daniels and Mariota joked about him being old.

The two are competing to start at quarterback for the Commanders, but it’s widely assumed to be Daniels’ job. However, Mariota has proven to be an excellent mentor for Daniels thus far.

Commanders QB Marcus Mariota is happy in Washington

Mariota is thrilled to be in Washington and helping Jayden Daniels.

Sunday’s practice was open to Commanders fans, and quarterback Marcus Mariota told the media afterward that he really enjoyed it.

“It was great. I love having the fans here at practice. It creates an energy, and atmosphere and its fun for me specifically to see Hawaii flags! That was really cool.”

Mariota, who will turn 31 in October, was born in 1993 in Honolulu, Hawaii. He played three college seasons for Oregon (2012-2014), won the Heisman Trophy (2014), and was the second overall selection in the 2015 NFL draft.

Jayden Daniels also was the Heisman Trophy winner (2023) as well as the second overall selection in the 2024 draft. “He’s done a great job,” said Mariota. “It’s not easy, and when you’re coming in to be the guy to kind of revitalize a franchise, it’s tough. But I think he’s got a good head on his shoulders.”

Mariota, having worn the same shoes as Daniels certainly knows something about the pressure to succeed in your rookie season. “I think we talk about it all the time in the quarterback room. When you are a young guy you really want to try to come in and be perfect. And that’s hard. I really think that can be detrimental in some sense to your growth.”

Of course, Mariota would have preferred his career to go a different, more successful path where he was still a productive starter. But he did add at the close of his time with the press, “I really love the Ashburn area, I love the DMV. I think it’s really been an easy transition for my family and I. We love the diversity, we love being able to go out and eat, and do all those types of things, and we’ve really enjoyed it. So, as this year goes on, we look forward to meeting fans and being a part of this, and we’re thankful we are here.”

Unmet expectations are difficult in life. Atlanta (2022) was challenging, even painful, for Mariota. However, it seems he learned from it and is now better prepared for his role with the Commanders.