Marcus Mariota’s first win as the Washington Commanders’ starter came with a little extra recognition attached.
The NFL named Mariota a co-winner of its FedEx Air & Ground Player of the Week award after he helped Washington edge Seattle 33-31 on Sunday. He split the honor with San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy, who put up big numbers in a 36-30 home win over Arizona.
Mariota threw for 183 yards and three touchdowns against the Seahawks at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland. Purdy finished with 297 yards and four touchdowns.
The award comes with Mariota filling in for Jayden Daniels, who is sidelined after dislocating his elbow in Week 2. Mariota, 32, said Wednesday that his focus is on helping Washington win, not trying to make a personal statement this late in his career.
“I want to be able to help these guys out and find ways to win,” Mariota told reporters. “If that means me playing well, great.
If that means me managing the game and making sure that we’re eating up clock, I’m taking care of the football, like I’ll do whatever it takes to win. I’m at that point in my career where that really is all that matters.”
He also said that when Daniels returns, the former LSU star should get the starting job back because Washington is his team.
Washington, now 1-2, heads to London to face the Indianapolis Colts, also 1-2, at 6:30 a.m. Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Mariota’s next opponent will bring a couple of familiar faces. He’ll see two former Oregon Ducks on the Colts’ defense: defensive lineman DeForest Buckner and rookie linebacker Bryce Boettcher. Mariota and Buckner were teammates on Oregon’s 2014 squad that won the Pac-12 championship and reached the national championship game.
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