Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5). Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images

Commanders to be without two stars Sunday against Falcons

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Sep 26, 2025 2:13 PM ET

After a fairly healthy rookie campaign last season for Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, his sophomore season has not been as kind.

Daniels missed Washington's Week 3 game with a knee injury, and it has now been made official that Daniels will miss Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons due to the same knee injury.

A second Washington Commanders superstar is out as well

Along with Daniels, Commanders standout receiver Terry McLaurin will also miss Week 4. McLaurin suffered a quad injury in Week 3 that will now sideline him.

It will be the first game that McLaurin has missed since the end of the 2020 season.

#Commanders QB Jayden Daniels (knee) and WR Terry McLaurin (quad) are out for Sunday vs. the Atlanta Falcons. pic.twitter.com/DZ8eVX7vgc
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 26, 2025

The gameplan without two superstars

For the second consecutive week, it will be Marcus Mariota starting at quarterback for Washington. It will also be the second straight week that Mariota has played against a former team of his.

At receiver, the Commanders will have to rely on young receivers Jaylin Lane and Luke McCaffrey to replicate the production that McLaurin usually provides.

A win for Washington without its two best offensive players would be huge before it heads into a tough stretch of games over the next six weeks.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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