Jayden Daniels’ injury status murkier with Commanders update

In a NFL week dominated by backup QB headlines, the Commanders’ situation isn’t getting any more clear.

Star quarterback Jayden Daniels was reportedly not at the media-viewing portion of practice Friday as he deals with a knee sprain, further pointing to Marcus Mariota getting the start under center against the Raiders, his former team, in Week 3.

However, Commanders reporters noted there was only a brief window for them to view practice, so it is unclear how much to read into Daniels’ absence during that time.

Daniels suffered the injury during a Week 2 loss last Thursday to the Packers in which he was hit 12 times and sacked four.

“If called upon, we would certainly expect Marcus to deliver in the fashion that he does,” head coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday.

“He has been like a real standard as a Commander, player [and] teammate in elite ways.”

Quinn said he would need to see Daniels practice for him to face Las Vegas on Sunday.

Mariota would join a growing list of No. 2 QBs slated to start this week.

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For Cincinnati, Jake Browning will helm the offense as incumbent Joe Burrow awaits toe surgery — and he’ll take on Carson Wentz, starting for the Vikings in place of injured JJ McCarthy.

Tyrod Taylor takes the mantle for the Jets with top option Justin Fields sidelined with a concussion.

Mariota said earlier in the week he’d just be “grateful” for the opportunity — even it somehow doesn’t pan out.

“For me, I’ve always tried to approach it the same,” he told reporters Wednesday. “So, I always try to approach it like I’m going to play that way. If the scenario happens or I’m given the opportunity to play, nothing changes for me on a week-to-week basis. So, my routine stays the same and I think it’s just kind of creates that normal procedure for me and it allows me just to go out there and play and not have to worry about, ‘OK, I gotta do this extra, I gotta do that.’ I just kind of stick to my process and allow that process to work.”

Washington will also be without veteran running back Austin Ekeler, who suffered a season-ending Achilles tear against Green Bay.

There isn’t much worry, at least not publicly, from the Commanders staff, when it comes to Mariota. 

“Anytime he’s asked to play or practice or even on scout team, he’s been phenomenal,” offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said this week.

“So, he treats it like a pro as a leader on the team despite not being the starter, which is hard to do and can’t say enough good things about him. So, if he has to go, I’m sure he will be ready.”