Mariota Gets the Call in London

Jayden Daniels has been ruled out for Sunday's game in London, and Marcus Mariota will start at Wembley. Two days ago I noted Daniels was on the plane and practicing — that window closed. The elbow didn't hold up through the week.

Mariota inherits a receiving corps that is genuinely good on paper: Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin are both active, and Zach Ertz gives whoever is under center a reliable underneath option. The question is whether a backup quarterback, working in an unfamiliar environment against a divisional opponent, can do anything with those pieces. Mariota came into camp already managing a sprained MCL from the preseason; he's been the backup for a reason.

The short-term math is straightforward. Washington needs Mariota to manage the game, lean on Jacory Croskey-Merritt in the run game, and not turn it over. That's the ceiling for this week, and it's a modest one.