Fowler: Mariota suffered sprained MCL vs. Colts

Mariota will miss his second straight contest and third of the season when the Commanders face the 49ers on Monday Night Football. Athan Kaliakmanis will continue to serve as the primary backup.

Daniels turned in one of the best games of his career on the ground on Sunday against the Giants. Daniels broke off an uncontested 38-yard touchdown run in the third quarter to put the Commanders up 19-6, and later broke free for a 26-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to again extend the Commanders’ lead. Both runs came on scrambles where the Giants seemingly forgot Daniels was a threat to run at any moment, and Daniels made the most of his opportunities. With the Commanders in range for a game-winning field goal late in overtime, Daniels inexplicably took a sack with no timeouts left on what appeared to be an attempt to center the ball in time for the game-winning try. We’ll likely get an explanation from both Daniels and head coach Dan Quinn on that final play, but Washington snatched defeat from the jaws of victory to move to 1-3-1 on the season. Despite the late-game gaffe, Daniels looked on-point for most of the afternoon, but struggled at times against the blitz, as the Giants brought pressure in several key spots to force Daniels to get the ball out quick or throw it away. Daniels looked like the elite dual threat fantasy managers want to see, and will be firmly in the QB1 ranks in next week’s game against the 49ers.

Schefter immediately added the caveat that the “overwhelming opinion” among doctors was that playing with a brace was a viable option. Daniels reportedly contemplated surgery after dislocating his elbow for the second time in less than a year. He opted against it and missed two games. Daniels is now set to return for Week 5 against the Giants. The Commanders could scale back his rushing for the time being, but OC David Blough already dismissed the idea that the playbook would be limited because of Daniels’ elbow injury.

Rapoport, typically cheery on the injury front, said that there are still “a lot of questions, going forward, for Jayden Daniels.” The bottom line is that Daniels is still rehabbing the elbow in his non-throwing arm. He should be able to throw and run effectively, putting him squarely in the QB1 tier, but re-injury risk remains a factor.

Mariota’s absence leaves QB3 Athan Kaliakmanis as the team’s top backup behind Jayden Daniels, who is returning from his Week 2 elbow dislocation. Mariota does not need to be rostered in 12-team superflex leagues.

Daniels appeared to be close to playing in Week 4 against the Colts before ultimately being ruled out. His being upgraded to a full participant in Thursday’s practice suggested he was a virtual lock to start in Week 5, barring any unexpected setbacks. Daniels will wear a brace on his left arm for the rest of the season in hopes of avoiding a three-peat of his dislocated elbow. Daniels will be without Stefon Diggs (hamstring) for Sunday’s game, and rainy/windy conditions are currently in the forecast. We’ll conservatively project him as a mid-to-low-end QB1 in what could be less-than-ideal conditions on Sunday.

Daniels is practicing in full and is expected to return to the lineup this week. He has suffered the same elbow dislocation twice in the past year, but his game-changing running ability is a big part of what makes Daniels a potential superstar quarterback. Blough might be more tactile with how he calls quarterback runs, but they will still be in the playbook this week. Daniels will be a low-end QB1 once he is officially cleared to play.

Mariota is dealing with an MCL sprain. He went down early in Week 4 and did not return. Luckily for the Commanders, Jayden Daniels appears ready to return to the lineup. Barring a setback, he will start in Week 5 against the Giants. Athan Kaliakmanis will serve as his backup.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo already reported that Daniels is expected to play in Week 5 and a full practice to open the week all but confirms his update. With Marcus Mariota also banged up, seventh-round rookie Athan Kaliakmanis would have been the next man up. He will back Daniels up as long as the latter doesn’t suffer any setbacks. The Commanders will likely dial back the designed runs for their franchise quarterback, but fantasy managers have to start him as a low-end QB1 as long as he’s on the field.

Washington will be trying to keep their season on the tracks after falling to 1-3 against the Colts while having to go to third-stringer Athan Kaliakmanis. It’s unsurprising that they’re rushing Daniels back. Even if you factor in an elevated chance of re-injury, Daniels probably clears the QB1 line for fantasy managers against the Giants.