Daniels and McLaurin Out for Next Commanders Game
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels will miss his second consecutive game. This absence is compounded by the loss of receiver Terry McLaurin, who will also be out. Coach Dan Quinn confirmed both players are out for Sunday’s game against the Falcons in Atlanta. Marcus Mariota will be the starting quarterback for the Commanders. Mariota started 13 games for Atlanta in 2022. Quinn also announced that John Bates (ankle/calf), their primary blocking tight end, and receiver Noah Brown (ankle/knee) will not play on Sunday. None of these players participated in the practice open to the media on Friday. Running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (knee) did practice on Friday after not participating on Wednesday and Thursday. Quinn said he had a good practice and the team listed him as a full participant, making him questionable for Sunday’s game.Daniels suffered a sprain in his left knee in the Week 2 loss in Green Bay, after being hit with a helmet at the end of a play in the first quarter. Although he remained in the game, he was seen limping noticeably afterwards. He participated in a limited way in Wednesday and Thursday’s practice, and although he did agility exercises, he did so at half speed. Mariota started in the Week 3 41-24 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. It’s the third game since the start of last season in which Mariota has replaced an injured Daniels, and he has completed 48 of 62 passes for 573 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions in that period. Mariota has expressed his satisfaction with playing in the Commanders’ offense, and his teammates have said that he excels in the quick passing game and the run-pass options favored by offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. McLaurin suffered a right quadriceps injury with 4 minutes and 47 seconds left in the third quarter against the Raiders while stretching to reach the end zone after a 56-yard reception. McLaurin has played in 72 consecutive games, and his last missed game was in Week 16 of the 2020 season. Due to injuries and a substitution, the Commanders will only have five projected offensive starters from before the season for Sunday’s game.“He’s working incredibly hard day and night to recover,” Quinn said. “Ultimately, the doctors haven’t cleared him yet. He’s doing absolutely everything he can.”
Dan Quinn
“It’s always about maximizing your personnel. No matter who’s up, who’s down. As a play caller, you have to be able to adapt and maximize the players you have and what they do best and put them in those positions to succeed. Our staff takes a lot of pride in that.”“When you have two players who have been reliable, who have made a lot of plays in this league,” Kingsbury said, “you have to find other ways to give them touches and move the ball in any way you can.
Kliff Kingsbury
