Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota is slated to make his second career start on Sunday, stepping in for the injured Jayden Daniels as the team travels to London to take on the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The matchup will be broadcast live on Sky Sports. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed the decision on Friday after a practice session held at the Commanders' hotel outside the capital.
Quinn explained that, while Daniels has returned to the practice field following a dislocated elbow suffered in Week Two against the Dallas Cowboys, the coaching staff has decided 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." Quinn praised Daniels' return as "a huge positive step for him and for us," but emphasized that the team will reassess his status once they have a full week of practice in the coming days. "We'll evaluate where we stand next week when we get a full week of practice all the way through," he added.
Mariota comes into the London contest riding a wave of confidence after throwing three touchdown passes in a 33‑31 victory over the defending champion Seattle Seahawks the previous week. That performance helped the Commanders secure a narrow win and demonstrated Mariota's ability to lead the offense in high‑pressure situations. Daniels' elbow injury marks the second time in as many seasons that he has suffered a dislocation to the same joint. He missed the majority of the second half of last season with a similar problem, making this a concerning recurrence for the young quarterback.
Despite the setback, Daniels has remained optimistic. He told reporters on Thursday that he is mentally preparing to start against the Colts and is not worried about re‑injuring his elbow, noting that the protective brace he wears should mitigate any risk. "That's what the brace is for," Daniels said. The Commanders will host the New York Giants the following Sunday, October 11, before entering a bye week in Week Seven.
Quinn highlighted the importance of any practice time for Daniels, describing his return to the field as a significant milestone. "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 rejoin the lineup, Quinn explained that the decision hinges on a comprehensive medical evaluation.
"It's really just like an entire group medical performance," he said. "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 program "Inside The Huddle" featured analysts Neil Reynolds and Phoebe Schecter discussing the upcoming international game. Both commentators noted that the Commanders are coming off a confidence‑boosting win and that Mariota's presence under center should provide a spark as they head into the London matchup.
Schecter said, "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." The Colts, meanwhile, are dealing with their own offensive challenges. Their star wide receiver Alec Pierce remains unavailable, and quarterback Daniel Jones is still working to regain the rhythm he displayed last season. Schecter pointed out that Indianapolis lacks the explosive running game that defined their previous campaign, relying heavily on Jonathan Taylor for ground production. "They're not the same without an explosive running game," Schecter explained.
"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 added that the Commanders' defense is likely to focus on shutting down the interior of the Colts' offense, forcing them to look to the sidelines and less experienced receivers.
"If you're this Commanders defense, 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.'" Both analysts predicted a high‑scoring affair but leaned toward a Commanders victory, citing the momentum generated by Mariota's recent performance and the defensive scheme they plan to employ. Reynolds emphasized the impact of Jonathan Taylor, noting that the Colts' game plan will revolve around his ability to carry the ball. "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." Fans can watch the entire 2026 NFL season, including the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI on Sunday, February 14, 2027, via Sky Sports. The network offers various streaming options, including contract‑free access through the NOW platform, ensuring viewers can follow every moment of the season from anywhere in the world.