Commanders QB Marcus Mariota set to miss the rest of Washington’s preseason after sprained MCL, report says

The Washington Commanders are expected to be without quarterback Marcus Mariota for the rest of the preseason after he suffered a sprained MCL during a preseason game on Friday, according to a report first shared by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The injury is expected to limit Mariota for at least Washington’s remaining preseason portion, and the team will need to manage the quarterback reps that come with that absence.

The specific timetable being reported is that Mariota will miss the final two games of Washington’s preseason schedule. Another ESPN reporter, John Keim, is also cited in the report as viewing Mariota as unlikely to return for the preseason finale even absent the injury, which adds to the expectation that the quarterback opportunity now shifts elsewhere on the roster.

In the near term, the Commanders will have to work around the lost practice and game repetitions for their starter. Preseason is where coordinators sort out timing, game-plan wrinkles, and protection assignments in live conditions, so a starter missing meaningful snaps can force younger backups to take on larger, faster decision-making roles.

With the team facing at least two exhibition games without Mariota, the report indicates Washington may explore adding another quarterback. That kind of move, if it happens, is often about ensuring depth for both the quarterback room and the end of the depth chart, especially as teams typically balance veteran workload with the need to evaluate multiple players before the roster cutdown process.

Mariota’s status also puts pressure on the rest of the Commanders’ quarterback group to absorb reps and build continuity with the offensive line and skill players. Backup report-callers can lose valuable momentum when a starting veteran cannot return, but they also gain the chance to show they can operate under more extended looks, particularly in the third and fourth phases of a game.

For the organization, the immediate question is not only who takes Mariota’s snaps in each of the remaining preseason games, but how that affects the team’s overall evaluation plan. Washington’s staff will likely look closely at ball security, pre-snap command, protection awareness, and how quickly the quarterback adapts when the offensive structure changes across downs and situations.

As the preseason moves toward its final week, the key watch item is whether Washington makes a quarterback addition and how the staff distributes first-team and situational reps among the remaining options. The broader timeline for Mariota’s return to full participation will also be something to monitor as more medical updates emerge beyond the initial report.