With Jayden Daniels out, Marcus Mariota shows importance to Washington Commanders

LANDOVER, Md. — While the Washington Commanders await quarterback Jayden Daniels’ return from injury — a frustratingly familiar storyline the past two seasons — they can only hope he’ll rejoin a team in better shape than when he left.

For that to happen, Washington must get things turned around quickly. And although the task seemed daunting in Sunday’s home opener against the defending Super Bowl champs, that, as the saying goes, is why they play the games.

On a dreary, rainy day at Northwest Stadium, the Commanders earned their first victory in three games this season and ended the Seattle Seahawks’ 12-game winning streak dating to last season. Washington left the field victorious for just the third time since last October, having shocked the Seahawks with three touchdowns from backup quarterback Marcus Mariota en route to a 33-31 victory.

With Mariota providing leadership for a bunch that desperately needed a confidence boost, the Commanders overcame a 10-catch, 128-yard, two-touchdown performance from peerless Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (he’s absurdly great). They were opportunistic on defense, collecting three turnovers, including a 50-yard interception return for a touchdown, and stopping the Seahawks on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line.

The combination enabled Washington to allay the fears of its long-suffering fans, albeit perhaps only briefly, that another horrific season is a fait accompli after road losses to NFC East division rivals Philadelphia and Dallas.

Finally, Washington has a victory, which is always reason to celebrate. Or for their fans, at least exhale.

Mariota was the biggest catalyst for change.

“When you start off with two division road games, it’s tough,” said Mariota, who completed 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards with no turnovers.

“It’s tough in this league. … You get knocked down at different points in the year. [Sunday’s victory] just shows a lot about the guys in the locker room. One-and-two is not where we want to be. But that was a huge win for us moving forward.”

The Commanders will rely on Mariota to help build on Sunday’s success.

It’s unclear when Daniels will return after suffering another dislocation in his non-throwing left elbow against the Cowboys a week ago. Last season, Daniels missed seven games related to the initial elbow dislocation and his subsequent shutdown.

Over the past two seasons, he has missed 11 games because of his elbow issues, a knee strain and a pulled hamstring. The 2024 Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, Daniels has been sensational when he’s been suited up.

The problem is keeping him healthy.

That’s why Mariota’s presence — both on and off the field — is so important to the Commanders.

The wily veteran, who’s in his 12th year in the league, put in so much work against the Seahawks, he needed a pick-me-up. Late in the game, the 32-year-old disappeared into the locker room.

“I need IVs,” Mariota said, eliciting laughter from reporters in the postgame news conference. “My workload hasn’t been this much in a while. My body wasn’t ready for it.

“Big-time credit to our training staff and our athletic medicine [staff]. That’s not easy to do, especially in the middle of a game like that. But, yeah, I went and got an IV bag and was able to come back out.”

To All-Pro Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin, Mariota looked like a young fella against the Seahawks.

“Marcus is an unbelievable person, a human being, first and foremost,” said McLaurin, who had six catches for 77 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter that helped Washington take a 24-10 lead.

“He just comes in our building every single day looking to serve. When he’s in the backup role and Jayden’s starting, he’s doing nothing by supporting Jayden, supporting us and being communicative on the sidelines. When he’s in there [playing], we believe wholeheartedly he could give us a chance to win a football game.”

No doubt, that was the case Sunday. But the Commanders still have plenty of room for improvement.

They were outgained in total net yards 437-258. On third down, Washington went 3-for-13, including 1-for-11 at one point. If not for Seattle’s three turnovers, Sunday’s outcome could have been another downer for the Commanders and their fans.

For now, Daniels is putting off having surgery to repair his damaged elbow. When he returns, he’ll wear a brace. It’s unlikely, however, thr 25-year-old will be back for Washington’s Week 4 game against the Indianapolis Colts in London.

Whatever Washington continues to need, Mariota will do his best to provide.

“You never understand truly how much you impact those around you,” he said. “I’ve always felt like the more that I can serve others and be there for my team, the better the team is gonna be.”

Clearly, the Commanders are grateful for all Mariota provides. They’d just rather not have to call on him so much.

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