Jayden Daniels
Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings went into Detroit with their season on the line. Sure, it’s just the eighth game of the season, but that contest felt like it carried definitive results. J.J. McCarthy was back under center and he helped to pull the upset.
Now with a 4-4 record and hope renewed for the future, each contest still left takes on a different level of importance. Five weeks from now the Washington Commanders come to U.S. Bank Stadium. Jayden Daniels was lost for the season on Sunday night, and that has massive implications for the Vikings matchup.
Marcus Mariota is next man up against Minnesota Vikings
This isn’t the first time Jayden Daniels has missed time for the Washington Commanders this season. Former Oregon Ducks Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota has started three games. He’s now in line to fill in for Dan Quinn’s team the rest of the way.
At this point Mariota is a bonafide journeyman in his 11th NFL season. He’s 1-2 as a starter for Washington, including a loss against his former Atlanta Falcons employer.
In five games for the Commanders, Mariota has completed 63.6% of his passes. He has an even 4/4 TD/INT ratio and taken seven sacks. Mariota still uses his feet plenty and has turned 18 scampers into 122 yards and a touchdown. At his best, he’s an aging dual-threat quarterback that provides a lesser version of Daniels to compete against.
LEADER: When Marcus Mariota approached rookie QB Jayden Daniels before his game-winning touchdown and gave him this advice.
“Stand up, catch your air, get your wind and go out there and execute. Use your God-given abilities & let's go win this game”
🙌pic.twitter.com/DOrx2LkIzE
— MLFootball (@MLFootball) October 12, 2025
Minnesota was always going to have an advantage against the Commanders playing at home, but that should only grow with Mariota under center. They must first focus on the Ravens, Bears, and Packers, but another win has presented itself in a greater capacity at this point.
Kirk Cousins enters the discussion
There’s certainly a world where the Commanders don’t feel like Marcus Mariota is the right veteran quarterback to take over for Jayden Daniels. This is a team that had playoff intentions this season, and they may be willing to make a move ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline.
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With Jayden Daniels expected out for the season, a name that immediately comes to mind: Kirk Cousins.
Played in Washington for three seasons. If the #Commanders don’t have 100% faith in Marcus Mariota, Cousins may be their guy. pic.twitter.com/YuZVktVpHi
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) November 3, 2025
Kirk Cousins just started for the Atlanta Falcons as Michael Penix missed a contest with a knee injury. It didn’t exactly go well, but the veteran has expressed a desire to be traded and would love an opportunity elsewhere.
Cousins spent the first six years of his professional career in Washington, and it’s a place of familiarity for him. Although the faces have changed since then, Cousins remains largely the same quarterback, albeit with a fatter bank account.
Minnesota continues to be linked to Cousins, but Washington emerging as an option is certainly is intriguing. Regardless, the Vikings won’t see Jayden Daniels and that changes the entire landscape of that contest.
Mentioned in this article: jayden daniels Kirk Cousins Marcus Mariota More About: Minnesota Vikings
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