Washington Commanders backup QB shakeup, Marcus Mariota on IR

If possible, the Washington Commanders are even more all-in on rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels . Daniels won the friendly quarterback competition over veteran Marcus Mariota. The plan to have Mariota be the backup/mentor hit a snag on Saturday.

Marcus Mariota was put on IR for a pectoral injury. He will miss at least four games. Jeff Driskel is now QB2, and Sam Hartman, previously on the practice squad, is QB3.

The experience difference between Driskel and Mariota is considerable. Driskel has only won one NFL game in six years with 12 NFL starts. Mariota won 34 out of his 74 NFL starts over a nine-year career.

Hartman has never started an NFL game. The pressure is now more firmly on Daniels 's shoulders as he starts his rookie season knowing that the backup situation is less than ideal. The No.

2 overall pick has been praised by many within and outside the Commanders locker room. The Commanders open the season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In Weeks 2-4, they have the New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals, and Arizona Cardinals.

Mariota could be available to assume the QB2 role by Week 5 when the Commanders play the Cleveland Browns..