Daniels, McLaurin out as Commanders' injury woes deepen ahead of Falcons clash

The Washington Commanders will start Marcus Mariota at quarterback in Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons, but will be without two of their top playmakers. Jayden Daniels will miss a second straight game with a knee injury, and Terry McLaurin will be sidelined with a quad issue.

Daniels sustained his knee injury in Week 2 during a loss to Green Bay on Thursday Night Football and did not practice ahead of Week 3. Washington went on to beat the Raiders 41-24 without him. Daniels returned to limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday but has not been cleared by doctors for Sunday, according to coach Dan Quinn. Quinn noted the quarterback was working hard to return, but medical clearance remains the hurdle. Daniels said Thursday he felt good about his recovery.

McLaurin's absence compounds Washington's challenge. The Pro Bowl receiver logged three catches for 74 yards in Week 3 after catching a 56-yard gain that was cut short by a tackle at the one-yard line. He sought a second opinion on the quad injury and did not practice Wednesday. Quinn said McLaurin is week to week and will gauge progress next week. Without McLaurin, Mariota will have a harder time generating big plays, especially on the road in Atlanta.

Mariota stepped into the Week 3 relief role and delivered 15 of 21 passes for 207 yards and one touchdown, plus 40 rushing yards and a rushing score. Washington is listed as 2.5-point underdogs at BetMGM. The Falcons are 1-2 this season and host the Commanders in what shapes up as a pivotal early-season stretch.

The injuries leave Washington with limited pass-catching options as it tries to keep pace in the NFC East, while Atlanta seeks to stabilize its offense after a shaky start.