Marcus Mariota Ruled Out of Commanders Preseason with Sprained MCL
Marcus Mariota, the 32-year-old veteran quarterback for the Washington Commanders, has been diagnosed with a sprained MCL after a hard hit in the team's preseason game on Friday night. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Mariota is expected to miss the remainder of the preseason while he tries to rehab and get back on the field for the regular season.
The injury occurred in the first quarter of the game when Mariota took a hit and then went to the ground on the next play with what appeared to be a non-contact knee injury. He immediately left the game and went to the locker room with assistance from the training staff.
Mariota's injury is not the first of its kind during his 12-year NFL career. He has battled knee pain in the past, and the 32-year-old veteran has missed plenty of games in his career.
Despite the injury, Mariota's place on the roster feels secure as the team's backup. Sam Hartman replaced Mariota in the preseason game, but there doesn't seem to be much risk that Mariota will be cut this preseason, assuming that his recovery is swift.
Mariota has filled in admirably for Jayden Daniels, who has also missed time with injuries over the past two seasons with the Commanders. Daniels' absence has given Mariota the opportunity to showcase his skills, and he has thrown for over 2,000 yards, 14 touchdowns, and seven interceptions in that time.
The Commanders will now have to rely on Sam Hartman to lead the team in the remaining preseason games. Hartman has already shown promise in his limited playing time, and it will be interesting to see how he performs with more playing time.
Mariota's injury is a setback for the Commanders, but it is not a major blow to their chances in the regular season. The team has a strong roster and a good coaching staff, and they should be able to navigate the absence of their veteran quarterback.
The Commanders will now focus on rehabilitating Mariota and getting him back on the field as soon as possible. They will also have to rely on Sam Hartman and other players to fill the void left by Mariota's injury.
Source: Yahoo Sports