Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) is brought down by Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (36) during the second half of NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Commanders stars Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin out against the Falcons with injuries
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) 鈥 The Washington Commanders will be without offensive star players Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, coach Dan Quinn said.
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels speaks during a news conference following an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Matt Ludtke)
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) 鈥 The Washington Commanders will be without offensive star players Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, coach Dan Quinn said.
Daniels knee injury has not progressed enough for the doctors to clear him, Quinn said on Friday. The Commanders’ franchise quarterback was also out last week in the team鈥檚 41-24 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders. Backup Marcus Mariota will again get the start.
鈥淗e鈥檚 working incredibly hard, round the clock, to get back,鈥 Quinn said. 鈥淯ltimately, doctors haven鈥檛 cleared him just yet.鈥
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Wide receiver McLaurin, who missed all of training camp amid a contract dispute, was ruled out with a quad injury that kept him out of practices all week.
Washington did not place the 2024 second-team All-Pro on injured reserve, but McLaurin sought additional medical opinions on the injury. Quinn declared the receiver鈥檚 status as 鈥渨eek-to-week.鈥
鈥淪ee what next week brings and where he is at,鈥 Quinn said.
Speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Daniels said he 鈥渇elt good鈥 but acknowledged the decision to play or sit was not his to make.
The Commanders are also without their other starting outside receiver, Noah Brown (groin), and blocking tight end John Bates. Rookie running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt (knee) is expected to play against the Falcons after participating in Friday鈥檚 practice.
Both of Mariota鈥檚 starts, his first since 2022 with Atlanta, will have come against two of his former teams. The 2022 campaign with the Falcons ended abruptly after Mariota was benched following a 5-8 record as the starting quarterback. He completed 15 of 21 passes for 207 yards and one touchdown against the Raiders.
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