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Report: Commanders QB Marcus Mariota (MCL) to miss time

By Thomson Reuters Aug 16, 2026 | 11:47 AM

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota likely will be sidelined for the remainder of the preseason due to ​a sprained MCL, ESPN reported ‌on Sunday.

Mariota sustained the injury on a non-contact play early in the first quarter of Friday’s preseason opener against the Miami Dolphins.

He signed ‌a ​one-year, $7 million contract in ⁠March to serve ⁠as the backup to Jayden Daniels in Washington.

Sam Hartman and seventh-round draft pick Athan Kaliakmanis are the other quarterbacks ​for the Commanders.

Mariota, 32, played in 11 games as Daniels’ replacement last ⁠season, going 2-6 as ⁠a starter. He completed 139 ​of 227 passes (61.2%) for 1,695 yards, 10 ​touchdowns and seven interceptions. He also rushed ‌50 times for 297 yards and one touchdown.

Selected by Tennessee with the second overall pick of the 2015 NFL ⁠Draft, Mariota compiled a 29-32 record as a starter for the Titans from 2015-19 and went ⁠5-8 ‌as the starter for the ⁠Atlanta Falcons in 2022.

The 2014 ​Heisman ‌Trophy winner at Oregon, Mariota ​has completed ⁠62.8% of his passes for 17,879 yards, 107 touchdowns and 62 interceptions in 104 games (82 starts) for the Titans, Las Vegas Raiders (2020-21), Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles (2023) and Commanders.

–Field ​Level Media