Mariota Exits Game with Knee Injury; Commanders Turn to Rookie Kaliakmanis Amid Daniels Absence

The Commanders ' quarterback injury woes got even worse Sunday in London: Marcus Mariota , already starting in place of Jayden Daniels (elbow), suffered a right knee injury in the first quarter against the Colts and is officially questionable to return . After a short time in the injury tent, Mariota walked back to the locker room for further evaluation.

Washington turned to third-string quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis , a seventh-round rookie out of Rutgers, getting his first career NFL snaps.

Mariota -- who relieved Daniels in the second half of Week 2 against the Cowboys and started in last week's 33-31 upset win of the Seahawks -- was off to a strong start against the Colts. Washington scored field goals on each of its first two possessions, with Mariota completing three of four passes for 46 yards and also ripping off a 35-yard run. But he went down on a red-zone sack, with his right leg getting pinned awkwardly. He was able to walk off under his own power, albeit gingerly.

> The @Colts get a huge sack on 3rd and goal @INDvsWAS on NFL Network Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/orNGwpNKtU — NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2026

Kaliakmanis was the 223rd overall pick in April's draft and won the Commanders' third-string quarterback job with a strong preseason.

The Commanders do not have a fourth quarterback on the roster behind Daniels, Mariota and Kaliakmanis; Sam Hartman is on the practice squad. Colson Yankoff , a tight end who started his collegiate career as a quarterback, would be the emergency option.

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_Originally reported by [CBS Sports](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/marcus-mariota-hurts-right-knee-questionable-commanders/)._