Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will sit out Sunday’s game against the Las Vegas Raiders because of an injured left knee, the first start he’ll miss since entering the NFL last season.
“He was just not all the way there yet,” Commanders coach Dan Quinn said Friday.
“Said at the beginning: We were going to be very diligent on his return to play and make sure we didn’t miss any steps,” Quinn said. “So we’re going to be smart, not just fast. The player wants to do everything all the time. That’s who he is as a competitor, which I love.”
For a third consecutive day, Daniels was unable to practice fully on Friday; he was not on the field with the rest of the team during the portion of the workout open to the media, and the Commanders officially listed him as “limited.”
Marcus Mariota will replace Daniels in the lineup and make his first start since 2022 with the Atlanta Falcons. Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2015 draft after winning the Heisman Trophy at Oregon, came in during three games in relief of Daniels last season. Mariota was a backup with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023.
“The good thing about it is we have banked reps with Marcus.
