What should have been a straightforward Week 4 transatlantic trip for the Washington Commanders has quickly turned into a quarterback crisis.
Already entering their London matchup against the Indianapolis Colts and navigating a depleted quarterback room, the Commanders were forced to hand the offense over to third-string rookie Athan Kaliakmanis midway through the first quarter after Marcus Mariota suffered a right knee injury.
The Domino Effect with Marcus Mariota Injured
The chaos under center started back in Washington. Third-year starter Jayden Daniels was ruled out for the second straight week with a dislocated left elbow. That handed the keys to veteran backup Mariota, who was looking to build on the momentum of his impressive performance that led Washington to an upset win over the Seattle Seahawks the week prior.
Instead, the veteran’s day ended prematurely.
Midway through the first quarter, with Washington leading 6-0, Mariota faced a third-down situation. Under pressure in the pocket, Colts defensive end Laiatu Latu sacked him, landing on Mariota’s lower right leg and bending it awkwardly. Mariota was evaluated in the sideline medical tent before walking to the locker room.
Originally deemed questionable to return, Mariota was officially ruled out at halftime. Before his early exit, the veteran was playing well, completing 3 of 4 passes for 46 yards and breaking off a 35-yard run. Notably, Mariota had previously suffered a sprained MCL in that same right knee during the preseason, though it’s unconfirmed if this is an aggravation of the same injury.
The New Commander in Charge: Enter Athan Kaliakmanis
With Mariota out, the Commanders turned to Kaliakmanis. A seventh-round pick (No. 223 overall) in the 2026 draft, Kaliakmanis beat out veteran Sam Hartman during training camp for a roster spot.
Kaliakmanis’s sudden debut in London brought a few notable milestones with it:
- A Long Wait for Rutgers: He became the first quarterback drafted out of Rutgers to attempt a pass in an NFL regular-season game since Mike McMahon did so in 2005.
- First of His Class: Kaliakmanis became the very first rookie quarterback from the 2026 draft class to take a regular-season snap.
What it Means for Washington
The Commanders are now down to their third-string quarterback just four weeks into the season. If Kaliakmanis also goes down with an injury, the team’s emergency option is tight end Colson Yankoff, who started his college career as a quarterback.
Washington will have to rely heavily on Kaliakmanis to steer the ship across the pond while hoping they get healthier at the position soon, whether it’s Marcus Mariota or Jayden Daniels.
