Athan Kaliakmanis didn’t just step into the Washington Commanders’ quarterback mess - he walked into it with the kind of green light that can make a rookie look fearless or reckless in a hurry.
That was the story in his debut against the Indianapolis Colts. The first rookie quarterback to appear in a 2026 regular-season game, Kaliakmanis made an immediate impression as Washington tried to navigate a 1-3 start without Jayden Daniels, who is just two weeks removed from another elbow dislocation, and without Marcus Mariota, who sprained his MCL for the second time in the same knee this season. Thrown into the fire as the backup to the backup, the 23-year-old gave the Commanders something they haven’t had enough of: a willingness to push the ball.
He finished with 186 passing yards, outpacing Daniel Jones’ 143, and his approach was as aggressive as advertised. Kaliakmanis was the only quarterback in the league to attempt six or more passes of 30-plus yards in a game this season, and he became the first Redskin/Commander/Washington Football Team player to connect on multiple 40-plus-yard throws in his Washington debut.
Athan Kaliakmanis goes DEEP for a beauty of a touchdown!@INDvsWAS on NFL NetworkStream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/JXB6CmxI9w
That kind of downfield appetite lines up neatly with the scouting report that followed him into the pros. The Rutgers product has the arm to chase explosive plays, and he’s not shy about taking that shot when he sees it.
He said in a prior interview with On SI that his confidence and decisiveness were part of his game, and that showed up here. The tradeoff, of course, is accuracy.
Kaliakmanis has the boldness to hunt big gains, but the polish still has work to do before anyone starts talking seriously about him as more than an emergency option.
His college numbers tell the same story. As a senior, he reached a 62.2% completion rate, but over his career he also threw 27 interceptions and 55 touchdowns, a product of the same aggressive style that made him appealing in the first place.
The debut wasn’t spotless. Kaliakmanis threw his first NFL interception while trying to create something on the move, a reminder that rookie quarterbacks often learn the hard way when the windows shrink. He also flashed a little improvisation outside the pocket, including a spin move that nearly worked before the play broke down.
Athan Kaliakmanis with the little spin move@INDvsWAS on NFL NetworkStream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/SgaeFSMZWc
The bigger issue around him is obvious: the surroundings aren’t clean. Washington’s offensive line is missing Laremy Tunsil and Sam Cosmi, its two strongest pass-blockers, leaving the team to patch together protection with overworked starters and rotating reserves. That’s a rough setup for any quarterback, and it’s especially unforgiving for a rookie making his first NFL appearance.
There is help coming in the form of Terry McLaurin, whose return to the starting lineup gives Washington a true deep threat and an end zone target. A healthier, more varied receiver group would also give Kaliakmanis more room to operate and less pressure to force the issue on every snap.
And even if Daniels is moving toward a return before the bye week, Washington would be wise to keep Kaliakmanis in the conversation. He’s already on the roster as a recent draftee, and after the way this season has gone, the Commanders may need every usable option they can find.
In Other News...
Giants Just Got A Tougher NFC East Problem To Prepare For
The Commanders came out of their Week 5 loss in London with more than a bad result, and they may have come home with a major piece of good news. Jayden Daniels exited against the Colts with a dislocated left elbow, but Dan Quinn said the starting quarterback is reportedly on track to potentially return as soon as next week against the Giants.
Washington had to finish the game with Marcus Mariota after Daniels went down, then turned to third-string quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis when Mariota was injured as well. For a Giants team trying to prepare for the division trip ahead, Daniels' possible return changes the picture quickly, especially with Washington hoping to get its offense back to something closer to whole. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Face A Week 5 Problem That Could Change Everything
The Giants come into their Week 5 meeting with Washington at 3-1, and the tone around this matchup has changed quickly thanks to their offensive uptick under Jameis Winston. For the Commanders, the bigger issue is less about the opponents record and more about their own quarterback situation, which has been clouded by injuries to Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota. In a division game, that kind of uncertainty can turn every possession into a referendum on depth, protection and preparation.
Washington has spent the early part of the week trying to sort through what it can reasonably expect under center, while also weighing how the rest of the offense fits if the available options are limited. The matchup now carries a different kind of pressure, because a divisional loss is one thing, but an unsettled quarterback picture can shape more than one game if it lingers. The Commanders do not just need a plan for Sunday, they need a read on how much of their season can survive this stretch intact. [Read more 🡒]
Jayden Daniels Changes Everything For Commanders Heading Into Giants Game
Jayden Daniels is set to be back under center in Week 5 against the Giants, a development that gives Washington a very different feel heading into the matchup. After dislocating his elbow in Week 2, Daniels has worked his way toward a return while Dan Quinn has made it clear the plan is for him to get a full week of practice before taking the field again.
The timing matters even more because Washingtons quarterback room has already been tested, with Marcus Mariota injured in Week 4 and rookie Athan Kaliakmanis pressed into the start. Getting Daniels back would stabilize the offense and reset the conversation around the Commanders just as the division schedule starts to tighten, but the final step before kickoff is still getting him through the week the way the staff wants. [Read more 🡒]