Commanders put QB Marcus Mariota on injured reserve

The Washington Commanders placed quarterback Marcus Mariota on injured reserve Saturday with a chest injury, ensuring he will miss at least the first four games of the season. The Commanders already had announced that Mariota was set to miss the Commanders' game against the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday after he failed to participate in his second consecutive practice Friday. Jeff Driskel will step in as the backup to rookie Jayden Daniels against the Buccaneers. Also on Saturday, the Commanders signed former Notre Dame and Wake Forest quarterback Sam Hartman off their practice squad. Mariota, 30, was signed to a one-year, $6 million contract with Washington in the offseason. Selected by Tennessee with the second overall pick of the 2015 NFL Draft, Mariota compiled a 29-32 record as a starter for the Titans from 2015-19 and went 5-8 as the starter for the Atlanta Falcons in 2022. Mariota completed 15 of 23 passes for 164 yards with one touchdown and one interception in three games as Jalen Hurts' backup with the Philadelphia Eagles last season. The 2014 Heisman Trophy winner at Oregon, Mariota has completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 15,820 yards, 93 touchdowns and 55 interceptions in 90 games (74 starts) for the Titans, Las Vegas Raiders (2020-21), Falcons and Eagles. The Commanders also elevated linebacker Nick Bellore and defensive tackle Sheldon Day from the practice squad to play in Sunday's game in Tampa Bay. --Field Level Media