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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels left Sunday's (October 20) game against the Carolina Panthers in the first quarter due to what the team said was a rib injury and is questionable to return, the team announced.
Daniels went to the locker room for further evaluation and was replaced by veteran backup Marcus Mariota.
"Jayden Daniels (rib) is questionable to return. Marcus Mariota is now in at QB," the Commanders wrote on their X account.
Daniels, the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner at LSU and the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, has emerged as the favorite to win the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, leading the Commanders to an immediate turnaround through his first six NFL games.
Daniels entered Sunday's game with 1,404 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions on 125 of 166 passing, while also recording 322 yards and four touchdowns on 63 passing attempts, while leading Washington to a 4-2 record, currently first-place in the NFC East Division standings.
Mariota, who is also a former Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 overall pick, signed a one-year deal with the Commanders this past offseason after stints with the Tennessee Titans (2015-19), Las Vegas Raiders (2020-21), Atlanta Falcons (2022) and Philadelphia Eagles (2023). The former Oregon standout suffered a pectoral muscle strain in practice and was placed on injured reserve on September 7 before being activated on October 5.