The Washington Commanders have placed QB Marcus Mariota on injured reserve and will have Jeff Driskel serve as the backup to Jayden Daniels
They’ll have their first opportunity to show what that means at 1 p.m. ET against the Titans.
The Washington Commanders placed Marcus Mariota on injured reserve on Saturday, meaning he will be out for at least the first four games of the season.
Coach Dan Quinn explained that Mariota has a strained pectoral muscle. The 30-year-old
quarterback missed practice this week and was listed with a chest injury.
Journeyman Jeff Driskel is expected to be the backup for Jayden Daniels in the season opener on Sunday at Tampa Bay.
The Commanders have also signed former Notre Dame and Wake Forest QB Sam Hartman from their practice squad and moved defensive tackle Sheldon Day and linebacker Nick Bellore to the active roster for the game against the Buccaneers.
Rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton is doubtful as he recovers from foot surgery done in the offseason.
Washington signed Mariota to a one-year, $6 million contract before drafting Daniels with the second pick. The 2015 No. 2 pick said at the time he was ready to either mentor or start, as needed.
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WR Keenan Allen (heel) expected to be active, will make Bears debut Sunday vs. Titans
Chicago won’t have to wait for Keenan Allen’s first regular-season appearance.
The veteran wide receiver, who was listed as questionable due to a heel injury, is expected to play in the Bears’ game against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported.
Allen was trending that way all along after fully participating in practice Friday following two limited sessions.
He was just one of a handful of franchise-shifting acquisitions the Bears made this offseason, having spent 11 years on the Chargers with 904 receptions, 10,530 receiving yards and 59 touchdown catches.
His fifth career 100-catch season, which contributed to his sixth 1,000-yard season, took place last season before being traded. He showed he still had it then, and the Bears are confident he still has it now as part of what promises to be a three-headed receiving monster for No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.
Given his underneath prowess, Allen has all the tools to be the rookie quarterback’s best friend and safety blanket. DJ Moore and another rookie, Rome Odunze, also figure to feature prominently in the rebuilt WR room to go along with the new franchise QB under center and a new lead running back, D’Andre Swift, taking handoffs.
With Allen ready to go, the Bears are fully stocked on offense for Week 1.
