Mariota's injury status raises questions for Commanders QB room

Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Marcus Mariota's injury status raises questions for Commanders quarterback room

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Aug 16, 2026 11:31 AM ET

The Washington Commanders quarterback room took a hit Friday when Marcus Mariota left the first preseason game with a non-contact injury.

Mariota immediately pointed at his right knee and limped off the field with trainers. Commanders fans have anxiously awaited news of Mariota's injury status, and that was revealed Sunday by ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.

Marcus Mariota has a sprained MCL

According to Schefter, Mariota suffered a sprained MCL that will likely sideline him for the remainder of Washington's preseason games.

With less than a month until the Commanders' Week 1 game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Mariota will likely have plenty of time to heal up and be ready to serve as the backup to Jayden Daniels for a third consecutive season.

Marcus Mariota non contact injury on handoff. Watch him top left. He’s out of the game.

Was patting his knee when trainers came out. pic.twitter.com/aBDhMWHTL7
— Grant Paulsen (@GrantPaulsen) August 14, 2026

Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota suffered a sprained MCL that is now likely to sideline him for the remainder of the preseason, per sources. pic.twitter.com/e7P01GaN8w
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 16, 2026

Marcus Mariota is vital to the Washington QB room

Mariota only suffering a sprained MCL is excellent news for Washington, as he is among the top backup quarterbacks in the league and has shown he can still perform at a high level. If the injury had been more serious, the Commanders would've had a QB room of Daniels, Sam Hartman and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis.

The two quarterbacks not named Jayden Daniels have never thrown a pass in an NFL regular-season game, so it would've been an ultra-thin QB room. A healthy Mariota, who is available to replace Daniels in case of another injury, is crucial in Washington's attempt to get back to the postseason for the second time in three years.

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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