The Washington Commanders have gone through several big changes this offseason. This includes hiring a new head coach and completely overhauling their quarterback room.
Unfortunately, a quarterback of theirs is about to be placed on injured reserve. What happened? Read below to find out.
Marcus Mariota Placed on Injured Reserve
According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Washington Commanders have placed QB Marcus Mariota on injured reserve. Mariota was dealing with a chest injury days prior to this placement. As a result, he is going to be off of the active roster for at least the next four games.
The Commanders have already found a replacement for him on their active roster. Washington is going to promote QB Sam Hartman from their practice squad.
Last Chance for Marcus Mariota?
It is no secret that Marcus Mariota is not getting any younger. This is his 10th season in the NFL and he has essentially become a journeyman quarterback. During training camp, he lost the quarterback competition to rookie QB Jayden Daniels. While there is no shame in losing to the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, it does mean that Mariota’s opportunities to prove himself are getting more and more limited.
He was already designated as the backup QB to Jayden Daniels. That left a small opening for him to play at some point in the 2024 season. He appeared in just three games last season and had just 23 pass attempts in those games. As a result, it is fair to speculate that he may not get another chance in the NFL if this injury does end up keeping Mariota out for the majority of the 2024 season.
Washington Commanders Moving Forward
So, what does this placement mean for the Commanders? Right now, it should have a relatively minimal impact for their season plans. That is because, as mentioned above, rookie QB Jayden Daniels was already declared the starting quarterback.
However, this injury could mean that Washington has lost their security blanket at the quarterback position. With Mariota, they had an established veteran quarterback right behind their rookie phenom if Washington ever needed him. Now, the Commanders look like they will have to go all-in on Jayden Daniels performing well and avoiding injuries. If one of those two things do not happen, Mariota’s absence will be more noticeable.
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