Banged-up Commanders lose WR Lane for season, QB Mariota indefinitely
by George Gerbo · The Washington TimesThe ranks of the injured for the Washington Commanders have gotten worse following Sunday’s loss in London.
Coach Dan Quinn confirmed that receiver and punt returner Jaylin Lane is out for the rest of the season after fracturing and dislocating his ankle in the Commanders’ 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. The Virginia Tech product, a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft, was carted off the field in the third quarter after being injured on a punt return.
Quarterback Marcus Mariota avoided the worst-case scenario, with Quinn saying Monday that his right knee injury was an MCL sprain, the same ligament Mariota injured in training camp.
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“Don’t have an exact timetable yet,” Quinn said. “We’ll know a little bit more after his return-to-play process, but he’ll be working off to the side as it goes through the next week or so.”
Mariota started in place of Jayden Daniels, who missed his second straight game with a dislocated elbow. Rookie Athan Kaliakmanis entered following Mariota’s injury, completing 13 of 33 passes for 186 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.
“I liked what I saw from Athan in some spaces, but we really don’t have a update for you until we know maybe the length of where we’re at with Marcus,” Quinn said. “But the fact that it was the same injury he’s had, hopefully there’s some familiarity with where it is, but just too early to call in that space with his return to play.”
Good news could be coming on multiple fronts, though, starting with Daniels, who Quinn hopes will have a full week of practice beginning Wednesday. The same goes for top receiver Terry McLaurin, whom Quinn said is still being evaluated following a hamstring injury during practice Friday and was ruled out against Indianapolis.
“It was a difficult call, but one that was the right call on Sunday,” Quinn said. “Once we go through him working off to the side with trainers — today was more on the strength side of things — so we’ll give you a better update as we get to it.”
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Also on the positive side are the potential returns of defensive back Nick Cross (internal injury) and right guard Sam Cosmi (concussion). Neither traveled with the team to England, as “the hope was to get them into practice this week,” which Quinn said both are trending toward.
“It’ll be good to get Nick back into the mix,” Quinn said. “I think adding Sam back to [the offensive line] would certainly be a shot in the right direction … I got my fingers crossed for that, for him to rejoin practice and get into the space.”
Washington could use the services of anybody they can get healthy, as the team is sitting at 1-3 and staring down a home matchup with the NFC East-leading New York Giants this week.
“I’m frustrated and pissed, but don’t get it twisted: My belief in them isn’t wavering,” Quinn said. “Got a good fire that’s been lit, and we’ll channel it the right way.”
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George Gerbo
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