Tag: QB Marcus Mariota

Commanders’ QB Marcus Mariota in a good place these days

Marcus Mariota will be ready for this opportunity if called upon.

Marcus Mariota has walked in Jayden Daniels’ shoes.

Mariota was brought to Washington because, as a veteran, he has a lot of experience to offer to Daniels.

The former Oregon Duck was drafted second overall in the 2015 NFL draft, just as Jayden Daniels was drafted second overall in this last 2024 draft.

Next week, Mariota will turn 31 (October 30), so he has been around the block a few times in the NFL. Having Mariota in Daniels’ ear each day of practice was a valuable opportunity for Daniels to learn all he could.

Mariota went to a Tennessee Titans team and started 12 games in his rookie season. However, the Titans only went 3-9 in those 12 games. On the other hand, Daniels is the beneficiary of a GM like Adam Peters, who knew how to overhaul a roster with 30+ new men on the team in one season. So Washington is 5-2 going into Sunday’s game against the Bears.

Mariota finished below .500 in his five years with the Titans (29-32). He then endured two tough years with the Raiders, during which time he never made a start.

In 2022, the Falcons were 5-8 in his 13 starts; something really blew up there, and Mariota was gone, not even finishing the season. It did not look good at all for Mariota going forward.

However, his season with the Eagles (2023) apparently went well in the locker room, and former Eagles coaches Brian Johnson and Mariota both came to Washington this offseason.

Kliff Kingsbury (Commanders OC) said this week he “saw his preparation, I saw how he operated in the spring…I think he embraced the moment. He’s only 30 and is still a tremendous talent.”

Then came last Sunday. Jayden unexpectedly was out with a rib injury, and Mariota was thrown into the fire. Who could have seen Mariota completing 18 of 23 for 205 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions and a very impressive 8.9 yards per passing attempt.

This week, Kingsbury remained upbeat. “I think his best football is still ahead of him, and I’ve told him.”

Daniels says Mariota has been very positive for him. In addition, we see Mariota being encouraged and perhaps living out that encouragement he has received from Kingsbury.

Perhaps the Commanders will be the better place for Mariota.

 

What Dan Quinn said about Commanders QB Marcus Mariota

Dan Quinn impressed with Marcus Mariota and believes in him moving forward.

Dan Quinn liked the way Marcus Mariota stepped up Sunday against the Panthers.

Starter Jayden Daniels was injured during the first Washington possession Sunday. With Daniels unable to come out to play the second offensive possession, Mariota rose and led Washington to its easy 40-7 victory over the Panthers at Northwest Stadium.

“We hate that these types of injuries happen, and God forbid when they do, you want to make sure you’re absolutely ready to deliver in that space,” Quinn said. “And Marcus is that type of player. And as much as you don’t want that, those injuries do happen at any position in the NFL; we know it does.”

Mariota not only stepped in. He performed much better than anyone could have imagined he would, completing 18 of his 23 attempts for 205 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions, and a 132.8 passer rating.

“So, for him to step into that space, it was an important win. Certainly not a great one with players being injured, but it was an important one. And on the sideline, you can see the support that Marcus got from his teammates. And I think that goes a long way, of being ready and all the things that happen when no one’s watching.”

Quinn especially liked Mariota’s hurry-up offense just before the half, which improved a 20-0 lead to 27-0 at halftime. What he liked about it is that he knows it is not simple and doesn’t come automatically.

“The staying after practice, going through a two-minute to get ready. And it sure enough, it happened right before the half, to go down the field on a two-minute, and he literally had done that on Friday post-practice with a bunch of guys and going through to get full speed reps. So, it’s funny how those things come up and you’re ready and you’re able to deliver. So, that’s Marcus being ready when called upon.”

Quick facts from Commanders’ 40-7 win over the Panthers

Several quick facts from the Commanders’ win over the Panthers.

Kliff Kingsbury’s offense was on display today. The Washington Commanders had no trouble with the Carolina Panthers, winning easily, 40-7, at Northwest Stadium.

Perhaps the most alarming moment of the game was seeing Jayden Daniels injured and taken to the locker room. It is an apparent rib injury, and he did not return to action.

Here are some of the quick facts from the fifth win of the Commanders’ season:

  • The Commanders are 3-0 at home. The last time they were 3-0 at home was in 2005.
  • Washington outgained Carolina 421-180.
  • Today was the first time Washington scored 40 points at home since a 2016 win over the Green Bay Packers on a Sunday Night game.
  • Washington led by 27 points at halftime. This was the largest halftime lead since 2005 when they led Dallas 28-0.
  • RB Brian Robinson has run for six rushing touchdowns. This is the most in his three NFL seasons, and today was only the seventh game of the season.
  • Brian Robinson ran for his sixth rushing touchdown, tied with Robert Griffin in 2012 and Clinton Portis in 2008 for the most rushing touchdowns through Week 7.
  • Dante Fowler’s interception return for a touchdown was the first defensive touchdown of the 2024 Commanders’ season.

  • After going first five games with no interceptions, the Commanders have intercepted a pass in consecutive games.
  • Dante Fowler had previously returned two fumbles for touchdowns. Today was his first career interception touchdown.
  • TE Zach Ertz now has 47 career touchdown receptions. He is tied with Ozzie Newsome and Pete Retzlaff for 18th in most receiving touchdowns in NFL history for tight ends.
  • Fowler’s interception returned for a touchdown is the longest interception touchdown return at home since S Ifeanyi Ohalete’s 78-yard interception return in 2002.
  • The Commanders ran 63 offensive plays on Sunday, and the Panthers only ran 43.
  • Tight end Ben Sinnott had his first career reception today; it was also his first NFL touchdown.
  • Sunday marked the first time Washington scored 40 or more points in multiple games since the 2016 season (which, by the way, was the last winning regular season record for Washington).
  • Sunday’s win was the Commanders’ fifth of the 2024 season, surpassing the 2023 season win total of four.
  • Washington outrushed Carolina 214-95 and outpassed them 207-85.
  • Marcus Mariota was 18-23 for 205 yards, averaging 8.9 an attempt, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 132.8.

Commanders bring back one from injured reserve

Commanders make some roster moves, including bringing back a player from IR.

The Washington Commanders made some roster moves on Saturday ahead of Sunday’s Week 5 game against the Cleveland Browns. The biggest move on Saturday was the Commanders bringing back Marcus Mariota.

Mariota was placed on the injured reserve list and missed the first four games due to two injuries he suffered in training camp. First, he tweaked a groin muscle, but then he suddenly missed a practice due to a pectoral injury and was placed on the IR list.

Also announced Saturday afternoon were two elevations from the Practice Squad: CB Kevon Seymour and WR Brycen Tremayne from the practice squad.

Tremayne’s elevation at this time is not a surprise. WR Noah Brown injured his groin and could not practice, and Dan Quinn declared him “out.” In addition, Jamison Crowder, with his injured calf, was placed on the injured reserve list this week, meaning Crowder will miss four games. Thus, the Commanders needed to elevate a receiver.

Seymour is perhaps being elevated because it appears that safety Tyler Owens will most likely not play against the Browns for now. He has an injured shin and has missed practice, and the Commanders may, therefore, activate safety Darrick Forrest, who has been inactive the first four games.

There has been growing hope that defensive end Efe Obada and rookie linebacker Jordan Magee will return from the injured list to the active roster. But it appears that those two players will have to wait another week.

One final question for this week. With the Commanders activating Mariota, will they keep four quarterbacks on their roster (including Sam Hartman)? Or will they make another roster move involving Hartman?

Quinn anxious for Commanders’ injured players to return, play at home

Dan Quinn optimistic about some injured players returning soon.

Commanders coach Dan Quinn is hoping to get some new players out on the field.

Quinn began his Wednesday presser with the local media, saying some injured players—backup quarterback Marcus Mariota, rookie linebacker Jordan Magee, and defensive end Efe Obada—are now ready to begin the 21-day return-to-play window.

However, it was just the opposite news for wide receiver/returner Jamison Crowder (calf), who is headed to the injured reserve list. This means Crowder will be out for at least four weeks.

Quinn also said in his introductory comments that with three of the first four games on the road, he and the team are excited and looking forward to “coming home and hopefully creating a home-field advantage. It’s as fun as you could possibly imagine when a stadium’s going crazy for the team. And so, we’re certainly wanting to capture that.”

Mariota had a strange preseason. He only played a series in the preseason opener against the Jets and did not play again in the final two preseason games. His first injury was a groin injury, and then a chest injury which landed him on IR, missing the first four games. Jeff Driskel is currently the number two quarterback.

Magee, a fifth-round draft choice out of Temple, injured his knee (meniscus) in the first preseason game, requiring a procedure, and has missed the first games.

Obada suffered two fractures in a leg in the home game against the Giants in November of 2023.

The players can practice with the team for 21 days before a decision is made about adding them back to the 53-man roster.

When Quinn was asked about whether any of the players were ready to return to the active roster soon, Quinn responded, “We really have to wait. These guys have been out for a while, and so that’s why you have the extended time to get them ready to play. And so that’s where we will go into, and each one will be its own individual case, too.”

Quinn expressed how he is looking forward to playing at home on Sunday.
“It’s a huge advantage for the team because as loud as it can get and silent cadences and all that goes with that, it’s just an absolute blast. The energy goes through the roof. So, that’s what we’ll dig for and keep battling for it, and the better that we can play, the more we can create that together, and then it becomes, man, this is a really hard place to play when you tie all of the of the things together.”

LT Brandon Coleman to play in Commanders’ opener

Some good news regarding a pair of rookies.

Washington Commanders coach Dan Quinn announced Friday that Brandon Coleman will play in the season opener on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Coleman was drafted out of TCU in round three (67 overall) of April’s NFL draft, and he was getting some reps as the No.1 left tackle in training camp when he injured a pectoral muscle. This resulted in Coleman missing all three preseason games.

The left tackle has been trending upward the last two weeks, and Friday at his press conference, Quinn asked, “Will Brandon Coleman start?”

Quinn responded, “He will play.”

Consequently, because Cornelius Lucas started in the preseason, he will get the start Sunday in Tampa against the Bucs. Coleman is trending upward; the Commanders think he is ready to play some but don’t want him bearing the load just yet. So, it looks like Lucas and Coleman will rotate in some fashion on Sunday.

To this point, no Commanders coach or player has unveiled their plan for playing both left tackles on Sunday. Todd Bowles has active blitz packages for the Bucs’ defense. Thus, perhaps the Commanders don’t want to rush in Coleman too soon with too many blitz rushes to consider.

In other injury news, Quinn made it clear that No. 2 quarterback Marcus Mariota suffered a pectoral injury in Wednesday’s practice. Missing practice Thursday and Friday, Mariota has been ruled out for the opener against the Bucs. Jeff Driskel will serve as Jayden Daniels’ backup.

Rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton is trending upward. Quinn said he was closer. In fact, he expressed that Newton will travel on Sunday and said, “We haven’t ruled him out” of playing in the 2024 opener.

Will QB Marcus Mariota miss the Commanders’ season opener?

Will it be Jeff Driskel serving as Jayden Daniels’ backup in Week 1?

Thursday’s Commanders’ practice had two noticeable absences.

Defensive tackle Johnny Newton did not practice, but the biggest news out of practice was that No. 2 quarterback Marcus Mariota also did not practice. What is most concerning is that on Wednesday, Mariota was limited in practice but did not even practice on Thursday.

It has been a strange turn of events for Mariota this preseason. He only played a series in the preseason opener against the Jets and did not play again in two preseason games. His first injury was a groin injury and we don’t know how or when, but the team has reported the last two days Mariota has a chest injury. An injury that apparently kept him out of practice on Thursday.

Newton apparently was pushed Wednesday, and the team wanted to rest him Thursday, push him again Friday, and then evaluate whether he is ready for the opener. But Mariota’s inability to practice raises questions about whether he will be inactive on Sunday. If so, the team would have their third quarterback, Jeff Driskel, active as the backup to starter Jayden Daniels.

 

2024 NFL preview: How ready are the Commanders at quarterback?

Previewing the quarterback position for the Commanders ahead of Week 1.

Jayden Daniels called an audible, overruling the play (screen), which had come in from the sidelines.

It was his first third down in the first series of his first preseason game. He instead called for an empty backfield with all five receivers running a vertical route. Daniels then looked the safety off to the left side of the field, eliminating his help against Dyami Brown. Daniels then fired deep to Brown for a 42-yard gain.

On a third-and-long against the Dolphins, Daniels simply took what the defense gave him. He took the check down, gained good yardage, and made the field goal attempt much closer. The Commanders have to be thrilled with Daniels’ progress thus far.

Of course, there will be struggles; he is a rookie. His extremely lean frame will continue to be a concern. With his quickness and speed, Kliff Kingsbury will want to run some zone-read options each game. Therefore, Daniels will need to get down and avoid hits often.

Marcus Mariota has been one Daniels says he is leaning on heavily. Coaches have said he has accepted his role very well and is supportive of Daniels. Mariota has walked in Daniels’ shoes. He is good to have in Daniels’ ear each day and each game.

On the other hand, Mariota is now dealing with his second injury of the preseason. First, it was a groin, now a chest injury. The plan was that Mariota would be the only other quarterback on the roster, but what little action he saw wasn’t good, and with another injury, one can’t help but wonder if the Commanders might actually have Mariota “inactive” for the opener.

Which leads to Jeff Driskel. Driskel received many more snaps in the preseason and produced several nice plays. As a result, the decision was made to keep Driskel on the roster as the third quarterback. If Mariota is not ready for the opener, they will be glad Driskel is available.

Sam Hartman injured a shoulder in the first preseason game against the Jets and did not see action in the final two preseason games. He was waived, then brought back and signed to the practice squad.

Quinn: Commanders ‘have a really cool quarterback room here’

Dan Quinn and Adam Peters discussed keeping three quarterbacks and one on the practice squad.

Did the NFLPA’s decision to decline the option to have the emergency quarterback come off the practice squad lead the Commanders to keep three quarterbacks on their initial roster?

That was a question posed Wednesday to general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn during their press conference. On Tuesday, the team announced its initial 53-man roster, which included quarterbacks Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, and Jeff Driskel.

Peters began by expressing, “not a lot.” “We thought Jeff did a really good job throughout. He got better and better throughout the offseason and training camp. We thought when we were making those (roster) decisions that Jeff earned a spot on the 53.”

Peters acknowledged the two spots were already determined to be Daniels and Mariota, but that Driskel “went and took it (roster spot). I am proud of him and the way he played; he earned it.”

Quinn quickly jumped in, elaborating further, “It’s a really cool quarterback room here. The coaching, their connection together and to see these four guys working together and in support of all that goes into it. It was by design that we were going to be heavy into that space from a coaching point of view. To see that transfer into the players and the belief in them, it’s been all we hoped it would be.”

The fourth was rookie Sam Hartman out of Notre Dame (and Wake Forest). Hartman was brought back and signed to the practice squad.

With Daniels being a rookie, the coaches could think that keeping another veteran around like Driskel in addition to Mariota gives Daniels another player with years of experience preparing in work weeks throughout an NFL season.

In addition, keeping Hartman means the Commanders have an extra veteran in Driskel for knowledge and playing if necessary. They also have Hartman, whom they can keep in hopes that he will develop toward competing for a roster spot next year.

Why did the Commanders keep QB Jeff Driskel?

Why did the Commanders keep three quarterbacks?

Why did the Commanders keep Jeff Driskel as a third quarterback on their initial 53-man roster?

For the last two weeks, several insiders have publicly stated that they felt strongly the Commanders would only keep two quarterbacks on their 53-man roster while placing a third on their practice squad.

Yet, after Tuesday’s deadline, Washington has three quarterbacks: Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota, and Jeff Driskel.

Head coach Dan Quinn, in speaking with the media Tuesday, expressed, “I think as you are going through it, quite honestly, we like the quarterback room. You just want as many guys in the building that are going through the process, understanding the system and working out. It’s such an important position as you are going through you want as many guys in the building that are always developing, always pushing. No other reason than the talent of the group and we really felt like this group was really pushing it. That was the reason behind it.”

Quinn wasn’t being dishonest. He is simply cautious not to say too much. Mariota, the second quarterback, was the second overall pick in 2015 and he has walked in Daniels’ shoes.

In addition, Mariota was recently in training camp, injuring a groin. If they need to go to another quarterback this season, right now, they are saying they want to have Driskel around.

Being in his first NFL season, the Commanders may feel it best to have two veteran quarterbacks in Daniels’s ear. Having supportive quarterbacks who accept their role in the quarterback room Monday through Friday is going to be very important for Daniels this year.

Driskel is 31. He has been around the football block a few times himself. He was a 5-star recruit for the Florida Gators and was going to be a big deal in the SEC. But it didn’t work out as planned.

Yet, Driskel has persevered, been a good student of the game, and been a good teammate. Consequently, he now enters his seventh NFL team in his eighth NFL season. Having been with the Bengals, Lions, Broncos, Texans, and Browns, he is glad to be here. He won’t make waves. He will come to work each day and be glad to be of whatever help he can to Jayden Daniels and the Commanders.