Without Jayden Daniels, Washington heads into Sunday’s home opener carrying plenty of uncertainty and a tough matchup to match it.
The Commanders will host the Seattle Seahawks in Landover, Md., with Daniels out for an undetermined period while he and the team weigh surgery versus a brace for his dislocated left elbow. That leaves Marcus Mariota in line to run the offense for a Washington team that has started 0-2.
Daniels’ setback hit hard after Washington had been counting on getting him through a healthier 2025 season. Instead, he went down again on the final play of the first half in last Sunday’s 37-20 loss at Dallas.
Before leaving, he completed 11 of 17 passes for 96 yards and a touchdown and added 69 rushing yards. Mariota finished the game, going 11 of 16 for 111 yards and a score.
Washington has seen this movie before with Daniels, 25, who was limited to seven games last season because of various injuries. Mariota, 32, handled much of the workload then, appearing in 11 games and starting eight. He completed 139 of 227 passes, a 61.2% clip, for 1,695 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and Washington went 2-6 in those starts.
Still, there’s confidence in the veteran quarterback inside the building.
"We have a calm confidence in him," wide receiver Terry McLaurin said. "He calls the plays really well.
The offense is still open. So, we're going to rally around him and make plays."
Seattle arrives with a very different vibe. The Seahawks are 2-0 and may get their own starting quarterback back Sunday after Sam Darnold returned to practice Wednesday.
Darnold missed time after suffering a glute injury in the first quarter of Seattle’s opener against New England on Sept. 9.
"I think we'll make a decision at some point before Friday's over," Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said. "I don't think we'd go into the weekend not knowing if he's going to play."
If Darnold can go, Seattle will try to keep rolling behind a defense that has been sharp through two games. The Seahawks rank second in the NFL in total defense at 214 yards allowed per game and are giving up just 8.5 points per game. Washington, by contrast, is allowing 30.5 points and ranks 15th in total defense at 325 yards per game.
The turnover gap is just as stark. Seattle has four takeaways, all interceptions, while Washington has none.
The Seahawks’ passing game has also taken off, even with Darnold sidelined last week. Drew Lock threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-7 win at Arizona, and all three scores went to Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Smith-Njigba caught nine passes for 155 yards and now leads the league with 277 receiving yards. He is tied for the league lead with four touchdown catches, tied for third with 17 receptions and has been targeted 22 times in two games.
"Efficiency-wise, I think he's been unbelievable," Seattle receiver Cooper Kupp said. "I mean, he's doing exactly what he's supposed to do."
Washington’s passing game will lean on Stefon Diggs, who leads the team with nine catches, 102 yards and three touchdowns. He said the Commanders know what kind of challenge awaits them.
"It's going to be a test for us," said Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who faced the Seahawks in the Super Bowl last season as a member of the Patriots.
"The main thing is just details," Diggs said. "Getting open and catching the ball is one thing, but being in those spots, wherever it is.
Being available and making some plays for (Mariota), kind of get him in a little bit of a rhythm. We'll see how it goes."
The recent history between these teams tilts Seattle’s way, too. In last season’s Week 9 meeting in Washington, the Seahawks rolled to a 38-14 win and scored 24 second-quarter points.
Darnold threw four first-half touchdown passes in that game, and Daniels suffered the first left elbow dislocation of his career in the fourth quarter. He missed the next three games.
Washington also entered the week with a long injury list. Safety Nick Cross (illness), guard Sam Cosmi (concussion/throat), defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (back/shoulder), linebacker Frankie Luvu (groin) and tight end Chig Okonkwo (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday.
Seattle had several names on its report as well. Darnold, running backs Jadarian Price (chest) and George Holani (knee), wide receiver Cooper Kupp (back), fullback Brady Russell (chest) and linebacker Ernest Jones IV (neck) were limited Wednesday, while safety Ty Okada (hamstring) and defensive tackle Brandon Pili (concussion) did not participate.
In Other News...
Seahawks Fans Already Have One Worry About Rashid Shaheed
Rashid Shaheed has been part of the Seahawks early-season conversation for reasons Seattle probably did not want. Through the first two games, he has just four catches on nine targets for 39 yards, and his work on special teams has not been spotless either, including a fumble that was recovered by a teammate. For a player who re-signed with Seattle on a three-year contract, the slow start has already nudged him into the spotlight.
The concern is not only the stat line, but whether Shaheed can be trusted to settle in as a dependable No. 2 receiver while the offense deals with quarterback injuries and backup Drew Lock keeps things moving. Seattle has needed someone behind the top target to create a steady threat, and Shaheed has not yet provided that kind of consistency. There is still time for the role to take shape, but the first two weeks have given fans a reason to watch this one closely. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Macdonald Just Learned An Early Seahawks Lesson The Hard Way
Mike Macdonalds first season in Seattle has already offered a reminder that life as an NFL head coach comes with lessons beyond the sideline. In reflecting on a recent interview with Graham Bensinger, Macdonald said the experience drove home the importance of understanding off-the-record agreements and being careful about how he handles media conversations. He described the moment as part of the learning curve, while also stressing the value he places on honest dialogue.
For the Seahawks, the episode is less about one interview than about how Macdonald settles into the broader demands of the job. Any early misstep can shape how a coach is viewed inside the building and outside it, especially with ownership watching closely and media interactions coming with the territory. Macdonald appears to understand the stakes, and the next test will be whether that lesson changes how he navigates those conversations moving forward. [Read more 🡒]
Seahawks Could Gain Early NFC West Edge From A Rams Problem
Puka Nacuas groin injury has already started to ripple beyond Los Angeles, because the Rams are staring at a Week 3 matchup with the Broncos without one of their most important pass-catchers. Nacua missed Week 2, and Sean McVay has signaled he is unlikely to play again, leaving a Rams offense that already has to navigate a strong Denver defense without one of its top playmakers.
For Seattle, the timing matters. The Seahawks are positioned to be in the NFC West mix early, and if Los Angeles stumbles again, the division picture could start to tilt quickly toward Seattle and San Francisco after Week 3. A Rams start at 1-2 would not decide anything, but it would give the Seahawks a little more breathing room while their biggest division rival tries to survive without Nacua. [Read more 🡒]