<\/p>\n
The Washington Commanders<\/a> already knew they would be heading into Sunday’s game against the\u00a0Indianapolis Colts<\/a> without Jayden Daniels.<\/a><\/p>\n Now\u00a0<\/span>Marcus Mariota\u00a0<\/span><\/a>could be asked to win without two more important pieces of Washington’s offense.<\/span><\/p>\n Washington officially ruled Daniels out Friday as he continues recovering from the dislocated left elbow he suffered against the\u00a0<\/span>Dallas Cowboys.\u00a0<\/span><\/a>It will be the second consecutive game Daniels has missed, leaving Mariota to make another start.<\/span><\/p>\n That was expected.<\/p>\n What happened with Terry McLaurin wasn’t.<\/span><\/p>\n McLaurin wasn’t even listed on Washington’s injury report Wednesday or Thursday. Then a hamstring issue surfaced<\/a> Friday, limiting him in practice and leaving him questionable for Sunday’s game in London.<\/p>\n The timing couldn’t be much worse.<\/span><\/p>\n McLaurin is tied\u00a0<\/a>for Washington’s team lead with a 22% target share and leads the Commanders with a 28.4% first-read target share. Losing that security blanket would be difficult enough with Daniels behind center.<\/p>\n Potentially losing him while already starting a backup quarterback is another problem entirely.<\/span><\/p>\n McLaurin isn’t Washington’s only additional concern.<\/span><\/p>\n Running back Rachaad White<\/a> has already been ruled out with a shoulder injury after missing practice throughout the week. Starting guard Sam Cosmi<\/a> is also out with concussion and throat injuries.<\/p>\n Suddenly, the situation around Mariota looks considerably different than it did following Washington’s 33-31 victory over the\u00a0<\/span>Seattle Seahawks.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n Mariota played well<\/a> in place of Daniels, completing 19 of 31 passes for 183 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception.<\/p>\n He may need another performance like that against Indianapolis.<\/span><\/p>\n Jacory Croskey-Merritt\u00a0<\/a>sits atop Washington’s depth chart at running back, while\u00a0Austin Ekeler<\/a> gives the Commanders another veteran option in the backfield. Stefon Diggs\u00a0<\/a>would become even more important in the passing game if McLaurin can’t go.<\/p>\n There are still weapons available.<\/span><\/p>\n There just aren’t nearly as many as Washington probably expected to have.<\/p>\n The easy storyline entering Week 4 was always going to be Daniels’ absence.<\/p>\n Washington survived without him once. Mariota showed he’s capable of keeping the offense functional and winning a game while Daniels recovers.<\/span><\/p>\n Sunday could be a much tougher test.<\/p>\n It’s one thing to replace your starting quarterback. It’s another to ask his replacement to compensate for injuries elsewhere at the same time.<\/span><\/p>\n The Commanders already know Daniels and White won’t play. Now they’re waiting to find out whether their No. 1 receiver will join them on the sideline.<\/p>\n If McLaurin can’t go, Daniels’ absence might not even be Washington’s biggest offensive problem anymore.<\/span><\/p>\n It’ll be everything missing around the guy replacing him.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nTerry McLaurin<\/a> injury adds to Commanders’ problems<\/h2>\n
Marcus Mariota could be working with a depleted offense<\/h2>\n
Commanders need more than Marcus Mariota against Colts<\/span><\/h2>\n