Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota is slated to make his second start on Sunday, stepping in for the sidelined Jayden Daniels as the team travels to London for their international matchup against the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed the change on Friday following a practice session held at the Commanders' hotel outside the city. Quinn explained that the decision was made after a thorough evaluation of Daniels’ condition and the team’s overall readiness. Daniels had returned to the practice field earlier this week after suffering a dislocated elbow in the second‑week loss to the Dallas Cowboys. Although he was wearing a protective brace and reported feeling fine, the coaching staff decided to keep him out of the upcoming contest as a precautionary measure.
"[Daniels] had a great week. It was awesome to have him back on the field in a limited fashion," Quinn said. "He'll be out.
Marcus will start." Quinn described Daniels’ return to practice as "a huge positive step for him and for us," adding that the staff will reassess his status after a full week of practice sessions in the coming days. "We'll evaluate where we are next week when we get a full week of practice all the way through," he noted. Mariota earned praise for his performance in the previous game, where he threw three touchdown passes in a thrilling 33‑31 victory over the defending champion Seattle Seahawks. His poise and ability to execute under pressure have given the coaching staff confidence that he can handle the added responsibility against a formidable Colts defense.
The elbow injury marks the second dislocation Daniels has endured in as many seasons. He missed the majority of the second half of last year after a similar setback, raising concerns about his long‑term durability. Nevertheless, Daniels remained optimistic heading into the London game, stating on Thursday that he was mentally preparing to start and was not worried about re‑injuring his elbow. "That's what the brace is for," Daniels said, emphasizing his trust in the equipment and the medical staff.
The Commanders will host the New York Giants the following Sunday, October 11, before enjoying a bye week in Week Seven. Quinn highlighted the importance of any extra practice time for the team’s development, especially given the international travel schedule. "Certainly, anytime you can practice, that's a big deal," Quinn remarked. "So for him to get back, that was a big step for us.
Typical for him, he's more ready than you'd expect. That's just kind of how he is." When asked what criteria must be met before Daniels can return to game action, Quinn emphasized a comprehensive medical evaluation.
"It's really just like an entire group medical performance," he explained. "Where he's at, the practice part was a big piece of that today. But next week we're planning for him to get a full week of practice.
That would be a big deal for us." In addition to the on‑field updates, the show Inside The Huddle featured analysts Neil Reynolds and Phoebe Schecter discussing the upcoming contest. Both highlighted the confidence boost that a win would provide for the Commanders, especially with Mariota at the helm. "When you come off a win you get a little bit of a different schedule, but you have hope and they both really needed these wins, especially the Commanders. The confidence that should give them, especially having Mariota at quarterback.
That is exactly what we need going into these International games," Schecter said. The Colts, meanwhile, are dealing with their own offensive challenges.
Wide receiver Alec Pierce remains out, and quarterback Daniel Jones is still trying to recapture the rhythm he displayed last season. Schecter noted that the lack of a dynamic running game has forced Jones into uncomfortable situations, relying heavily on secondary targets like Josh Downs and tight end Tyler Warren. "They're not the same without an explosive running game," Schecter added. "So much of that team is run through Jonathan Taylor and they're struggling to get the ball going consistently.
He has his sparks but there's nothing that's consistent. That's forcing Daniel Jones into this uncomfortable position because right now your top players are Josh Downs and tight end Tyler Warren. That also limits where you're able to throw it on the field." Schecter also warned that the Commanders' defense will likely focus on shutting down the interior of the Colts' offense, compelling them to throw to less experienced receivers on the outside.
"Other than that you got Laquon Treadwell, Keenan Allen. I mean if you're this Commanders defence, you're coming into it saying: 'We're going to take away everything inside and we're going to force you to throw it outside to your lesser receiver and out you under pressure.'" she explained. Both analysts agreed that the game could turn into a high‑scoring affair, but they leaned toward a Commanders victory. Reynolds highlighted the impact of Indianapolis running back Jonathan Taylor, predicting that he would dominate the ground attack.
"This is a game that Jonathan Taylor takes over. They don't attack Washington through the air because they don't have the weapons so this is a big Jonathan Taylor game. He's going to touch the ball at least 30 times, so give me the Indianapolis Colts," Reynolds said. Overall, the matchup promises to be a compelling test for Mariota and the Commanders' offense, while the Colts will look to exploit any lingering uncertainties in Washington's secondary.
Fans can catch the live action on Sky Sports, and the 2026 NFL season—including the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI scheduled for February 14, 2027—will continue to be available via Sky Sports' streaming options and the NOW platform without a contract.