Washington will start the 10-year veteran Mariota in Week 8 against the Chiefs while Jayden Daniels recovers from a sprained knee.
Who is Marcus Mariota? This is the Washington Commanders’ backup QB
Jayden Daniels is out against the Chiefs in Week 8 after suffering another injury, this time against the Cowboys in the Commanders 22-44 loss in Dallas.
Breaking: Commanders QB Jayden Daniels will not play in Monday night's game against the Chiefs, a source told @john_keim and @JFowlerESPN. Marcus Mariota will start.
— ESPN (@espn) October 22, 2025
Daniels is suffering from a low-grade hamstring strain, a source said. It is not considered a long-term injury. pic.twitter.com/7v9pxNmvrF
It was reported that Daniels had been diagnosed with a low-grade hamstring strain. The 24-year-old quarterback shouldn’t be out too long as sources say it isn’t a long-term injury. Nonetheless the second-year QB will miss out on Monday Night Football and going up against Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs.
#Commanders Jayden Daniels - Video concerning for hamstring strain
— Deepak Chona, MD. SMA (@SportMDAnalysis) October 19, 2025
Thumbs up + attempting to jog on sideline = promising but initial reaction + limp suggests moderate severity
Avg = 2-3 wks. We assume from prior injury that WAS will be conservative with him
Re-injury and… pic.twitter.com/UzTU3TGpw5
Commanders opt for caution with Jayden Daniels
Daniels has played in five games in 2025 with 1,031 total yards passing and eight touchdowns with only one interceptions in his second season.
Last time Marcus Mariota faced the Chiefs, he threw a TD pass to himself 😳
— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2025
What kind of magic does he have coming tonight?
WASvsKC – 8:15pm ET on ESPN/ABC
Stream on @NFLPlus and ESPN App pic.twitter.com/WZ0V7K9N75
With Daniels sidelined, backup quarterback Marcus Mariota will start against the Chiefs.
Mariota brings experience to Washington
Mariota is a 10-year NFL veteran with extensive starting experience. He has appeared in 93 regular-season games, starting 74 of them, and holds a career record of 34-40 with 16,184 passing yards, 97 touchdowns and 55 interceptions.
The 31-year-old was selected second overall in the 2015 NFL draft by the Tennessee Titans, where he was the starting quarterback for four seasons. His only two postseason starts came in the 2017 season, when the Titans lost to the New England Patriots in the divisional playoffs.
From Heisman winner to NFL veteran
In 2014, Mariota became the first Hawaii-born player and the first Oregon Duck to win the Heisman Trophy, awarded to the best player in college football.
His popularity surged after he entered the league. In May 2015, the month after he was drafted, Mariota’s Titans jersey was the NFL’s top seller, ahead of Jameis Winston of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New England Patriots legend Tom Brady.
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