TL;DR
- Washington Commanders lost in Madrid, continuing their difficult season.
- QB Marcus Mariota exited the game with an injury during the third quarter.
- Mariota was replaced by Josh Johnson but later returned to the game.
- The injury occurred after a hard landing following a sack in Washington's territory.
The Washington Commanders's dreadful season continued to Madrid on Sunday, with expectations that a new location might yield improved outcomes. Despite some positive aspects from The Commanders' performance, they suffered another setback due to an injury when QB Marcus Mariota was forced out of the game during the third quarter.
Mariota, who stepped in for the injured Jayden Daniels, connected with Deebo Samuel for a touchdown earlier in the quarter but exited the game after a hard landing in Washington's territory.
Mariota was replaced by veteran journeyman Josh Johnson, but the Commanders had to punt just one play afterward.
Here's what you need to know about Mariota's injury and his status going forward.
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Marcus Mariota injury update
Mariota headed to the sideline for an evaluation after a rough landing in the end zone during the latter part of the third quarter on second down.
MARCUS MARIOTA 200 IQ PLAY 🎥 pic.twitter.com/zSVg2TXNMH
— NFL Drop (@TheNFLDrop) November 16, 2025
It wasn't immediately apparent what was causing his discomfort, but Mariota remained on the sideline without attention while Johnson entered the game for a single play prior to a Commanders punt. Following the conclusion of the drive, he went into the medical tent and didn't seem to exhibit any signs of limping.
On a second down play deep within Washington's territory, Marcus Mariota was sacked. Although he successfully threw the ball away before hitting the end zone, he sustained an injury.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) November 16, 2025
Josh Johnson took over for a handoff on 3rd-15, but Mariota remained on the sideline to watch. After Washington's punt,…
Mariota was observed preparing on the sideline after leaving the tent, suggesting he had a real possibility of rejoining the game, and he returned to quarterback when the Commanders began their subsequent offensive possession.
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