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 clash with the Indianapolis Colts at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The matchup will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, offering fans a chance to see how the Commanders adjust without their usual starter. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed the decision on Friday after a practice session held at the team's hotel outside the city.
Quinn explained that while Daniels has returned to the practice field this week following a dislocated elbow suffered in Week Two against the Dallas Cowboys, the coaching staff has opted to keep him out of the upcoming game to ensure a full recovery. "[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." The elbow injury was the second of its kind for Daniels in as many seasons. He missed the latter half of the previous campaign after a similar dislocation and was forced to sit out a substantial portion of the current season. Despite wearing a protective brace and expressing confidence that the brace would safeguard him, the Commanders decided to err on the side of caution.
"That's what the brace is for," Daniels remarked when asked about his readiness. "I'm mentally prepared to start, but I don't want to risk another setback." Quinn praised Daniels' return to practice as a "huge positive step" for both the player and the team. He added that the coaching staff will reassess the quarterback's status next week once a full week of practice is completed.
"We'll assess where we are next week when we get to a full week of practice all the way through," Quinn noted. "If everything goes well, we can consider bringing him back sooner rather than later." Mariota's recent performance has given the Commanders reason for optimism. In the previous game, he threw three touchdown passes, leading Washington to a 33-31 victory over the defending champion Seattle Seahawks.
That win highlighted his ability to manage the offense effectively and deliver under pressure, qualities that will be crucial in the high‑stakes international setting. The upcoming contest is part of the NFL's International Series, which sees teams play regular‑season games abroad to grow the sport's global audience. The Commanders will host the New York Giants the following week on October 11, and they enjoy a bye in Week Seven, giving them a brief window to regroup.
Quinn emphasized the importance of practice for Daniels' recovery, stating, "Certainly, anytime you can practice, that's a big deal. 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 replied, "It's really just like an entire group medical performance. 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." Analysts on the NFL's Inside The Huddle podcast, Neil Reynolds and Phoebe Schecter, offered their perspectives ahead of the London showdown.
Schecter noted the psychological boost a win provides, especially for a team that has struggled to find consistency. "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," she said. The Colts, meanwhile, face their own challenges.
Their offense is still missing wide receiver Alec Pierce, and quarterback Daniel Jones is still adjusting to the speed and rhythm that defined his play last season. Schecter explained, "They're not the same without an explosive running game. 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 further elaborated on the defensive strategy the Commanders might employ, stating, "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 put you under pressure.' We've read that book before and saw it a couple of times last year when people felt they had Daniel Jones' number. It should be a high‑scoring game but I'm going to go with the Commanders." Reynolds added his own take, focusing on the impact of Indianapolis' star running back. "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," he argued.
Both analysts agreed that the game could swing either way depending on which unit—offense or defense—asserts dominance early. The Commanders' defense, known for its aggressive pass rush, will aim to pressure Jones and limit big plays, while the Colts will rely on Taylor's ground game to control the clock and keep the Commanders' offense off the field. Fans can catch all the action live on Sky Sports, which will also provide coverage of the entire 2026 NFL season, including the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI scheduled for February 14, 2027. For those without a traditional cable subscription, streaming options are available through NOW with flexible contracts and promotional deals.
In summary, Marcus Mariota's second start marks a pivotal moment for Washington as they navigate the challenges of an international venue, a key quarterback injury, and a formidable opponent in Indianapolis. The outcome of this game will likely shape the Commanders' trajectory for the remainder of the season, making it a must‑watch event for NFL enthusiasts worldwide.