The Commanders are headed back to Washington dealing with yet another quarterback injury.
asserted
Commanders → head → injury
That makes for an unpleasant flight home after Washington lost 30-13 to the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
asserted
Washington → make → Sunday
Marcus Mariota lasted just two drives in his second straight start in place of Jayden Daniels, who dislocated his left elbow in Week 2 against Dallas but might be back soon.
uncertain
who → last → Dallas
Mariota sustained a knee injury while getting sacked.
asserted
Mariota → sustain → injury
So the Commanders (1-3) turned to rookie Athan Kaliakmanis, a rookie seventh-round draft pick out of Rutgers.
asserted
Commanders → turn → Rutgers
“Athan came in after 12 plays.
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Athan → come → plays
That’s not the ideal space to begin it, but I thought he also showed a lot of confidence, some fearlessness with that, and made some of the throws to highlight why he is where he is,” coach Dan Quinn said.
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Quinn → ’ → throws
“As far as a full team, I didn’t think we did enough around him,” Quinn added.
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Quinn → think → him
“I loved the way the defense started, created takeaways but to only get field goals out of those ... those were ones that we needed to nail.”
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we → love → that
Washington led 6-0 on field goals from Drew Stevens, but from there the Colts took control.
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Colts → lead → control
Indy took a 10-6 lead into halftime.
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Indy → take → halftime
Jaylon Carlies’ third-quarter interception of Kaliakmanis in Washington territory set up Jonathan Taylor’s second 5-yard touchdown run to make it 17-6.
Kaliakmanis said that interception was the one time he tried to do too much.
“There’s no need to try to put the cape on ...
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he → set → cape
The one time I did, it was a pick.
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it → do → ?
Maybe I could have put a little more loft on it ... maybe I could have thrown it away,” he said.
uncertain
he → put → it
The highlight of his day was hitting Treylon Burks on a 47-yard touchdown pass that closed the gap to 17-13.
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that → hit → 17
“It was surreal, man, it was absolutely surreal,” Kaliakmanis said, “but I’ve got to be honest, right now I’m just thinking about the loss.
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I → say → loss
It’s not about me.
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It → ’ → me
It’s about this team.
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It → ’ → team
“There were some very blessed moments for me,” he added, “but at the end of the day I’m a winner and today we did not win.”
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we → be → day
The rookie said he’s looking forward to studying film of the game to make corrections.
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he → say → corrections
He completed 15 of 33 passes for 186 yards with one touchdown and the interception.
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He → complete → touchdown
“I’m eager to get back after it,” he said.
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he → ’m → it
“I don’t know what the situation is going to be like, but I’m going to wake up and prepare like I’m the starter.”
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I → know → what
Daniels could be back soon
The Commanders host the New York Giants next Sunday and ideally would have their star QB back in action.
uncertain
Commanders → host → action
Daniels wore a brace this week on his injured — non-throwing arm — this past week at practice but was ruled out on Friday.
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Daniels → wear → Friday
Mariota had led the team to a 33-31 victory over the Seahawks last week, so there was confidence in the veteran.
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Mariota → lead → veteran
“He’ll have a full week of practice,” Quinn said.
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Quinn → have → practice
“That’s the goal — that he can get into that space.
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he → ’ → space
Once we see where Marcus is, that part too, we’ll have a better understanding.
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we → see → understanding
That’s the goal — for Jayden to throw full on.
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Jayden → ’ → ?
He was able to do some limited this week.
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He → do → limited
This week would be the plan for him to do all the reps.”
Mariota had a 35-yard run around the left end to start Washington’ second drive — and that alone made him the team’s leading rusher for the game.
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him → do → game
Austin Ekeler carried four times for 29 yards.
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Ekeler → carry → yards
“The team thinks it’s an MCL injury,” Quinn said of Mariota.
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Quinn → think → Mariota
“When we get the scan (Monday), we’ll have further knowledge of what we’re dealing with in length (of absence).
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we → get → absence
The Commanders also missed having Terry McLaurin in the lineup.
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Commanders → miss → lineup
The wide receiver suffered a hamstring injury on Friday and he was ruled out Sunday.
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he → suffer → Friday
“He desperately wanted to go.
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He → want → ?
It was just the best play to hold him out,” Quinn said.
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Quinn → hold → him
Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu said the team will stay positive.
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team → say → ?
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
