It looked for a while as if Jayden Daniels would take his place back in the lineup. However, the Washington Commanders' medical staff was not fully satisfied with the quarterback's mobility, which led to ruling him out once again in Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons.
This is a big blow, of course. But the Commanders can take solace in the fact that they have one of the league's most accomplished backups to depend upon.
Marcus Mariota will get the start versus another of his old clubs. The No. 2 pick is capable of coming in and ensuring no real momentum is lost. He put this on full display when deputizing for Daniels last time out against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Mariota showcased his athleticism well. He made some key throws in big moments to keep the chains moving. There was complete control pre-snap, and everyone believed in him. It also helped that Washington's ground attack gained more than 200 rushing yards and scored three touchdowns.
The Falcons represent another challenge Mariota must overcome. His life will be easier with cornerback A.J. Terrell out through injury, but nothing but supreme execution and flawless composure would have done.
As it turned out, Mariota's performance was not enough to prevent the Commanders from suffering a disappointing defeat on their travels.
With that being said, here are five significant observations from Mariota's performance at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Major observations from Marcus Mariota's performance against the Falcons
Marcus Mariota's early caution
The Falcons were always going to come out of the blocks with urgency and purpose. Getting humiliated in Week 3 left a sour taste in the mouth, and head coach Raheem Morris is not the sort of guy who accepts such mediocrity.
This led Marcus Mariota into some early caution. The Commanders needed to weather the storm as Atlanta came out firing on all cylinders. It wasn't easy, but the signal-caller was way down the list of Washington's problems as they got into an early hole.
Mariota was missing some legitimate weapons in the passing game, which didn't exactly help his cause. The offensive line couldn't keep Atlanta out of the backfield during the opening exchanges, and it showed. The Heisman Trophy winner was frequently moved off his spot. He protected the football, but it didn't do much to get Washington into the required rhythm.
That wasn't the case with Michael Penix Jr., who was nothing short of electrifying to begin the contest. Mariota has spent much of his time behind center in Washington managing a lead. Now, the tables have turned, and a massive response was needed, with many influential figures not suiting up.