Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-04 · by Ken Maguire The Associated Press
In a game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, the Washington Commanders lost to the Indianapolis Colts with a final score of 30-13. Marcus Mariota injured his knee and was replaced by rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis after just twelve plays. Kaliakmanis threw for 186 yards with one touchdown and an interception while completing 15 out of 33 passes. The article highlights the challenging situation for Kaliakmanis, who had to step in without ideal preparation time due to Mariota’s injury.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Marcus Mariota was ruled out of Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts in London due to a knee injury sustained early in the first quarter. The Washington Commanders, who were already without starting quarterback Jayden Daniels (due to an elbow dislocation), had to turn to rookie backup Athan Kaliakmanis for the remainder of the game. Mariota was initially injured when he got sacked by Colts defenders Adetomiwa Adebawore and Laiatu Latu, leading coach Dan Quinn to say they were "gutted" about his injury.
Before exiting, Mariota completed 3 passes for 46 yards and rushed for a gain of 35 yards. Kaliakmanis took over and was 6-for-12 with 33 passing yards in the first half as the Commanders trailed 10-6 at halftime. The rookie threw a critical 47-yard touchdown to Treylon Burks early in the third quarter, reducing the deficit to 17-13.
Terry McLaurin was also ruled out of the game for the Commanders because of a hamstring injury, further hampering Washington's chances against Indianapolis. The Colts' defense managed to keep the score close despite Kaliakmanis' efforts, reflecting the challenges faced by the Commanders in London without their primary quarterbacks.
Written for “Colts Vs Commanders In London” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 10 other(s) covering the same event.
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
Quinn → ’ → throws
“As far as a full team, I didn’t think we did enough around him,” Quinn added.
asserted
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.”
asserted
we → love → that
Washington led 6-0 on field goals from Drew Stevens, but from there the Colts took control.
asserted
Colts → lead → control
Indy took a 10-6 lead into halftime.
asserted
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 ...
asserted
he → set → cape
The one time I did, it was a pick.
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
I → say → loss
It’s not about me.
asserted
It → ’ → me
It’s about this team.
asserted
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.”
asserted
we → be → day
The rookie said he’s looking forward to studying film of the game to make corrections.
asserted
he → say → corrections
He completed 15 of 33 passes for 186 yards with one touchdown and the interception.
asserted
He → complete → touchdown
“I’m eager to get back after it,” he said.
asserted
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.”
asserted
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.
asserted
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.
asserted
Mariota → lead → veteran
“He’ll have a full week of practice,” Quinn said.
asserted
Quinn → have → practice
“That’s the goal — that he can get into that space.
asserted
he → ’ → space
Once we see where Marcus is, that part too, we’ll have a better understanding.
asserted
we → see → understanding
That’s the goal — for Jayden to throw full on.
asserted
Jayden → ’ → ?
He was able to do some limited this week.
asserted
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.
asserted
him → do → game
Austin Ekeler carried four times for 29 yards.
asserted
Ekeler → carry → yards
“The team thinks it’s an MCL injury,” Quinn said of Mariota.
asserted
Quinn → think → Mariota
“When we get the scan (Monday), we’ll have further knowledge of what we’re dealing with in length (of absence).
asserted
we → get → absence
The Commanders also missed having Terry McLaurin in the lineup.
asserted
Commanders → miss → lineup
The wide receiver suffered a hamstring injury on Friday and he was ruled out Sunday.
asserted
he → suffer → Friday
“He desperately wanted to go.
asserted
He → want → ?
It was just the best play to hold him out,” Quinn said.
asserted
Quinn → hold → him
Commanders linebacker Frankie Luvu said the team will stay positive.
asserted
team → say → ?
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
