Mariota starts Sunday — Seahawks home opener, Daniels still in specialist process

Marcus Mariota starts the home opener Sunday at 1 p.m. on FOX. Quinn: Daniels had imaging Monday and specialists Tue–Wed — no return timeline yet.

September 23, 2026

Week 3 — Seattle at Washington

The Washington Commanders host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Sep. 27, kickoff 1:00 p.m. ET on FOX at Northwest Stadium — the club’s home opener (Commanders.com schedule).

Head coach Dan Quinn made the quarterback picture plain after Monday media: Marcus Mariota is the starter for Sunday. On Jayden Daniels (left elbow dislocation at Dallas), Quinn said Daniels had imaging Monday and was set to see specialists Tuesday and Wednesday. Until that process is done, giving a return timeline would be guessing — Quinn’s words, not ours.

Quinn also said he and GM Adam Peters have not discussed signing a veteran backup yet — waiting on the specialist info. Quinn on Mariota: “there’s nobody easier to rally around than him.”

Quarterback (sourced — no invented timeline)

Head coach Dan Quinn (Mon media, Commanders.com):

Jayden Daniels (left elbow dislocation at Dallas) had imaging Monday and was set to see specialists Tuesday and Wednesday
Quinn: until that process is done, giving a return timeline would be guessing
Marcus Mariota is the starter for Sunday — Quinn: “there’s nobody easier to rally around than him”
Quinn said he and GM Adam Peters have not discussed signing a veteran backup yet — waiting on the specialist info

Sport DMV is not inventing a return date or describing the injury beyond what the club has confirmed.

Other injury notes (Quinn)

Nick Cross — internal injury; stayed overnight in Texas; discharged Monday; availability for Sunday TBD
Brandon Coleman — finger; on track to practice this week
Javon Kinlaw — shoulder; limited in practice this week
Sam Cosmi — concussion protocol

Locked matchup

Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX
Venue: Northwest Stadium (home opener)
Confirm inactives and the injury report when they post later in the week

Sport DMV read

Home opener energy meets a QB room still waiting on specialist clarity — that is the DMV week, not a countdown clock we invent. Watch Friday’s designations for Cross, Cosmi, and Kinlaw; Mariota’s job is to keep the offense on schedule until Daniels’ process produces a real date.

The Commanders page is the hub. Last desk: Dallas gameday.

*Wednesday morning desk, Sep. 23, 2026. Analysis refresh. Kickoff from Commanders.com schedule; QB/injury notes from Commanders.com (Quinn) and CommandersWire.*