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Mariota Injured, Kaliakmanis Takes the Field
4 Oct
Summary
- Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis replaced injured Marcus Mariota at QB.
- Kaliakmanis, a Rutgers product, was a seventh-round draft pick.
- Jayden Daniels is expected to return for the next game.
Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota sustained an injured right knee during Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts, leading to the unexpected appearance of rookie Athan Kaliakmanis. Kaliakmanis, a seventh-round selection from Rutgers, had previously outperformed Sam Hartman for the third-string quarterback position, showcasing his arm talent and competitive spirit in preseason games.
Kaliakmanis began his college career at Minnesota before transferring to Rutgers. He played for the Golden Gophers as their starter in 2023, then moved to Rutgers, where his brother also played. Despite initial struggles learning the new offense, his potential was recognized by Commanders' general manager Adam Peters.
Starting quarterback Jayden Daniels, sidelined with a dislocated left elbow since Week 2, practiced during the week. He is widely expected to be healthy enough to start in Week 5 against the New York Giants, but Kaliakmanis's performance and durability in the interim remain under scrutiny.
The team faces a potential backup quarterback issue should Kaliakmanis also become unavailable, as Sam Hartman is on the practice squad, leaving backup tight end Colson Yankoff as the next option.
