COMMANDERS TURN TO THIRD-STRING QB AFTER MARIOTA INJURY

The Washington Commanders turned to rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis during their game against the Indianapolis Colts after starter Marcus Mariota left with a knee injury. Kaliakmanis became Washington's third-string option after first-choice starter Jayden Daniels was already unavailable because of an elbow injury. One report said Kaliakmanis was hit hard within moments of entering the contest. The Colts led 10-6 at halftime. Washington's offensive output, which had moved well under Mariota, slowed once Kaliakmanis took over.

Reports attributed some of the Commanders' offensive difficulties to breakdowns in pass protection that left Kaliakmanis facing pressure rather than to his own performance. The Colts' offence also struggled, with starting quarterback Daniel Jones described in one report as having a poor outing. Indianapolis did manage one scoring drive, with running back Jonathan Taylor running for a touchdown. That drive was helped by an unnecessary roughness penalty called against Washington's Amik Robertson, which one report described as questionable, after the Commanders appeared to have forced a stop on third down.

The Commanders face the task of protecting Kaliakmanis as he continues running the offence in Daniels' absence, according to the reports. The Colts, meanwhile, will look to Jones to improve on his first-half form as the game continues. Neither Mariota's nor Daniels' timelines for return were specified in the reports.