Marcus Mariota, the Washington Commanders quarterback, recently suffered injuries that sidelined him during a critical stretch of the 2025 NFL season.

Injury Details

Mariota hurt his right hand and quadriceps in Week 16 against the Philadelphia Eagles on December 20, 2025, while starting in place of the injured Jayden Daniels. He left the game early in the third quarter after going 7-for-14 for 95 yards, and the team ruled him questionable with a hand injury following a concussion evaluation that cleared him. These setbacks came amid Daniels being shut down for the season due to a left elbow issue, thrusting Mariota into eight starts this year.

Recent Status Updates

Mariota missed the Week 17 Christmas Day loss to the Dallas Cowboys, where veteran Josh Johnson started and went 15-of-23 for 198 yards in a 30-23 defeat, dropping Washington to 4-12. On December 28, coach Dan Quinn called it "a stretch" for Mariota to return for Week 18 against the Eagles again, noting he skipped a walkthrough but expressing slim hope pending Wednesday's evaluation. He was dealing with stitches in his throwing hand, and Johnson—now 39 with a 1-9 career starter record—could start his second straight game if Mariota remains out.

Team Context and Outlook

The Commanders, fresh off an NFC Championship run in 2024, faced a disappointing 2025 with multiple QB injuries derailing their campaign. Backup options include Jeff Driskel on the 53-man roster and Sam Hartman on the practice squad. As of late December 2025, no further updates confirm Mariota's Week 18 status, but his absence highlights Washington's depth challenges in a lost season.

TL;DR: Mariota's hand and quad injuries from Week 16 have kept him out of at least two games, with his Week 18 return uncertain as Josh Johnson steps in.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.