Aug 24, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) passes the ball against the Indianapolis Colts during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Commanders signing QB Marcus Mariota

The Washington Commanders are signing journeyman quarterback Marcus Mariota to a one-year contract, multiple outlets reported Tuesday.

ESPN reported the deal was for $6 million and can climb to $10 million with incentives for Mariota, who stays in the NFC East after spending 2023 with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Mariota, drafted No. 2 overall by Tennessee in 2015, 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.

The 30-year-old Mariota completed 15 of 23 passes for 164 yards with one touchdown and one interception in three games as Jalen Hurts’ backup 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 have the No. 2 overall pick in April’s draft and are widely expected to take LSU’s Jayden Daniels, assuming Southern California’s Caleb Williams goes to the Chicago Bears at No. 1.

Sam Howell, 23, finished 4-13 as Washington’s starter last season. The 2022 fifth-round pick led the NFL with 612 pass attempts and also 21 interceptions, throwing for 3,946 yards with 21 touchdowns.

–Field Level Media

Dec 4, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota (1) throws against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Marcus Mariota to have season-ending knee surgery

Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said Wednesday that erstwhile starting quarterback Marcus Mariota will undergo knee surgery next week.

Mariota, 29, will be placed on injured reserve, ending his season.

The announcement caps a bizarre few days for Mariota and the team.

Smith announced Thursday that Desmond Ridder would take over at starting quarterback when the Falcons came out of their bye to play New Orleans in Week 15.

On Monday, it was revealed that Mariota was expected to be placed on IR with a knee injury, but Smith noted that the injury had nothing to do with his decision to promote Ridder, calling it a performance-based decision.

On Tuesday came the news that Mariota left the team after being informed of the demotion, with Smith painting Mariota as a quitter and implying that Mariota used the guise of injury to leave the team.

The knee “is nothing that has been an issue this season, but that’s (Mariota’s) prerogative so …” Smith said. “Of course, you want all your guys to be here, but guys have to make decisions. It’s part of professional sports. You have to have contingency plans.”

But then also Wednesday came the news that Mariota was apparently away from the team for the birth of his baby. However, that didn’t come from Smith or the Falcons. Instead, it was posted by a Falcons fan social media account.

Smith reinforced Wednesday that he was moving to Ridder as starter, regardless of Mariota’s injury.

“I’m not a medical expert, I’m just telling you that it had nothing to do with the decision,” Smith said.

Mariota has passed for 2,219 yards, 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions this season. But he has failed to reach 200 passing yards 10 times, including the past five contests.

Overall, the former No. 2 overall pick in 2015 has passed for 15,656 yards, 92 touchdowns and 54 interceptions in 87 career games (74 starts) with the Titans (2015-19), Las Vegas Raiders (2020-21) and Falcons.

He signed a two-year, $18.75 million deal with Atlanta in the offseason.

Mariota won the Heisman Trophy in 2014 to cap a strong college career at Oregon.

Ridder was Atlanta’s third-round selection (74th overall) in this year’s draft out of Cincinnati.

The Falcons signed former Tennessee Titans practice squad quarterback Logan Woodside to the active 53-man roster. Woodside will be active and serve as the No. 2 quarterback on Sunday and the rest of the season.

–Field Level Media

Jun 14, 2022; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Desmond Ridder (4) and Marcus Mariota (1) pass on the field during Minicamp at the Falcons Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons QB Marcus Mariota (knee) likely headed to IR

Quarterback Marcus Mariota is expected to be placed on injured reserve with a knee injury, Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said Monday.

The move comes after what Smith said was a “performance based decision” to make Mariota the backup and start rookie Desmond Ridder.

“I have a lot of confidence in Des,” Smith said Monday as the Falcons returned from their bye week.

The Falcons (5-8) play the New Orleans Saints (4-9) this week. Ridder played well in the preseason and the third-round pick could nail down the position with a strong finish to the 2022 regular season.

“Obviously where our circumstances are, we talked last time about trying to get over the hump in some of these close games and where we try to push the offense,” Smith said. “We feel like that this is the best decision where he’s at, where the team’s at, as we prepare to go down to New Orleans.”

Mariota was not at the team facility on Monday but undergoing medical testing on his injured knee.

A move to injured reserve would effectively end the season for Mariota with four regular-season games to play, unless the Falcons win the NFC South division to reach the playoffs.

The Falcons signed former Tennessee Titans practice squad quarterback Logan Woodside to the active 53-man roster. Woodside will be active and serve as the No. 2 quarterback on Sunday.

Atlanta is 1-4 in the past five games, but Smith said it was time to turn to Ridder because of his progress over the past month. Smith did not want to make a switch if it meant paring down the offense.

“If I thought we had to restrict him, that wouldn’t be fair to this team,” Smith said.

Mariota is in the first year of a two-year, $18.75 million deal he signed in March as the Falcons moved on from Matt Ryan. He is owed a $3 million roster bonus in March that could invite the Falcons to release him before taking on his $9 million base salary for 2023.

The No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Mariota spent five seasons with the Titans and played for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021.

–Field Level Media

Aug 27, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Desmond Ridder (4) throws a pass against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Falcons rookie QB Desmond Ridder to start in Week 15

Rookie Desmond Ridder is the starting quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons when the team returns from their bye week, NFL Network reported on Thursday.

Per the report, Ridder will usurp Marcus Mariota and be under center for the Falcons at New Orleans in Week 15. The 23-year-old Ridder has yet to play a snap in the regular season. He was selected by the Falcons in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft out of Cincinnati.

A dual-threat quarterback, Ridder tossed a school-record 87 touchdown passes during his four seasons with the Bearcats. His 44 wins at Cincinnati are the third-most in college football history.

He guided the Bearcats to a 13-1 record in 2021, passing for 3,334 yards, 30 touchdowns and eight interceptions.

Ridder was named the American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2020 and 2021.

The Falcons (5-8) lost four of their last five games to fall behind the NFC South-leading Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6).

Atlanta coach Arthur Smith told reporters that “every job is open” on Monday, one day after the Falcons dropped a 19-16 decision to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mariota, 29, has completed just 61.3 percent of his passes for 2,219 yards with 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions while making all 13 starts this season. His 15 TDs rank 16th in the NFL. He is tied for fifth (most) in the NFL with Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Minnesota Vikings’ Kirk Cousins with nine interceptions.

Mariota garnered criticism for missing open receivers in the loss to the Steelers. His interception on the Falcons’ final drive sealed the victory for Pittsburgh.

The Falcons have struggled mightily in the passing game this season. Per STATS, the Falcons rank 27th in the NFL in “big pass plays” (25-plus-yard pass plays) and 31st in pass attempts this season.

–Field Level Media

Jan 9, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) rushes with the ball during the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons sign QB Marcus Mariota to two-year deal

Free-agent quarterback Marcus Mariota signed a two-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, not long after the Falcons dealt longtime franchise QB Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts.

Mariota most recently backed up Derek Carr and played in special packages for the Las Vegas Raiders for two seasons after spending his first five NFL campaigns with the Tennessee Titans.

Atlanta head coach Arthur Smith overlapped with Mariota in Tennessee. Smith was the Titans’ tight ends coach from 2015-18 and offensive coordinator in 2019, the year Ryan Tannehill unseated Mariota for their starting job.

Mariota, 28, won the 2014 Heisman Trophy at Oregon and went No. 2 overall in the 2015 draft. He amassed a 29-32 record as the Titans’ starter and threw for 13,207 yards, 76 touchdowns and 44 interceptions in 63 games (61 starts). He also ran for 1,399 yards and 11 touchdowns in that span.

The Hawaiian got into 11 games in Las Vegas across 2020 and 2021, scoring two rushing touchdowns and throwing for another. He attempted just two passes in 2021.

Ryan, 36, was Atlanta’s starter for the past 14 seasons. The Colts gave up a third-round pick in the 2022 draft to acquire Ryan as their new answer at quarterback.

–Field Level Media

Dec 20, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Bryan Edwards (89) makes a touchdown reception in the end zone against Cleveland Browns cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during the first quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders’ Bryan Edwards, Marcus Mariota on COVID list

The Las Vegas Raiders placed starting wideout Bryan Edwards and backup quarterback Marcus Mariota on the reserve/COVID-19 list ahead of Sunday’s home game against Denver.

The Raiders (7-7) activated wide receiver Dillon Stoner and quarterback Nathan Peterman from the practice squad for the AFC West clash with the Broncos (7-7).

Edwards, 23, has 30 catches for 508 yards and three touchdowns in 14 games (11 starts) in his second NFL season.

Mariota, 28, has played a total of 12 offensive snaps this season in eight games. He has not attempted a pass and has rushed six times for 48 yards and a touchdown.

They joined offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor, cornerback Brandon Facyson and safety Roderic Teamer on the Raiders’ COVID list.

–Field Level Media

Sep 13, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs the ball ahead of Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen (6) defensive back DeShon Elliott (32) and linebacker Malik Harrison (40) during the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Raiders place QB Marcus Mariota (quad) on IR

Las Vegas Raiders backup quarterback Marcus Mariota was put on injured reserve with a quad injury, NFL Network reported Saturday.

He aggravated his injury in Monday night’s 33-27 overtime win over the Baltimore Ravens, and his placement on IR means he must miss a minimum of three weeks..

Mariota, 27, apparently was injured on the lone snap he took in the game, a 31-yard run up the middle in the first quarter.

Nathan Peterman will replace Mariota as the backup to starter Derek Carr.

The No. 2 overall pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2015, Mariota is in the final year of his contract and is slated to become a free agent.

Mariota was initially scheduled to earn $10.7 million in 2021, but with the money not guaranteed, the Raiders would likely have cut him had he not agreed to a one-year, $3.5 million restructured deal.

–Field Level Media

Sep 13, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) runs the ball ahead of Baltimore Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen (6) defensive back DeShon Elliott (32) linebacker Malik Harrison (40) and cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) during the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Raiders QB Marcus Mariota (quad) sidelined

Las Vegas Raiders backup quarterback Marcus Mariota will miss the next few weeks after aggravating a quad injury in Monday night’s 33-27 overtime win over the Baltimore Ravens, according to an NFL Network report.

Mariota, 27, apparently was injured on the lone snap he took in the game, a 31-yard run up the middle in the first quarter.

Raiders coach Jon Gruden acknowledged that Mariota was hurt during the game on Tuesday, but the team could face a fine from the NFL for failing to disclose his status during the game.

Nathan Peterman will replace Mariota as the backup to starter Derek Carr.

The No. 2 overall pick in 2015, Mariota is in the final year of his contract and will be a free agent in 2022.

Mariota was scheduled to earn $10.7 million in 2021, but with the money not guaranteed, the Raiders would have cut him had he not agreed to restructure his deal.

He reworked his contract with the Raiders before the season and will earn a guaranteed $3.5 million this season.

Originally drafted by the Tennessee Titans, Mariota has appeared in 65 career games (61 starts) and thrown for 13,433 yards with 77 touchdowns and 45 interceptions. He also has run for 1,518 yards and added 12 scores.

–Field Level Media

Dec 17, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) against the Los Angeles Chargers at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Marcus Mariota takes pay cut, returns to Raiders

Jan 3, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin talks with cornerback Steven Nelson (22) during the first quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

Quarterback Marcus Mariota is expected to return to the Las Vegas Raiders on a reworked contract that will pay him $3.5 million this season, NFL Network reported Tuesday.

Mariota can earn up to $8 million with incentives.

Either way, it’s a big pay cut for Mariota, who signed a two-year, $17.6 million deal with the Raiders last March to back up Derek Carr. He earned $20.9 million in 2019 with the Tennessee Titans but lost his starting job to Ryan Tannehill and wasn’t re-signed.

Mariota, 27, was scheduled to earn $10.7 million in 2021, but with the money not guaranteed, the Raiders would have cut him had he not agreed to restructure his deal. The reduced 2021 salary cap made that price too high for a backup, and Mariota found himself with limited options as many teams with needs at quarterback have filled their open spots.

The Titans made him the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2015. In 61 career starts, he has a 29-32 record and has thrown for 13,433 yards with 77 touchdowns and 45 interceptions. He also has run for 1,487 yards and added 12 scores.

–Field Level Media

Dec 17, 2020; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) reacts as he heads to the locker room after suffering a groin injury against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Gruden ‘optimistic’ QB Carr will play vs. Miami

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr practiced for the second straight day on Thursday, a good indication that he will play on Saturday against the Miami Dolphins, coach Jon Gruden said.

Carr injured his groin will he was running around right end in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 17. He was replaced by Marcus Mariota.

Carr was limited in practice on Tuesday but was a full participant on Wednesday and Thursday.

“I’m not going to say anything other than I’m optimistic, but I’m not a mind reader,” Gruden said Thursday. “I just know that he had an injury that caused him to miss the game last week and I respect that. He’s a tough guy, man. I’m optimistic he’ll be ready to go, yes.”

Carr has a career-best 102 passer rating this season, throwing for 3,396 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Mariota, a former No. 2 overall draft pick by the Tennessee Titans in 2015, made his debut for the Raiders against the Chargers by throwing for 226 yards and a touchdown, in addition to rushing for 88 yards and another score, in a 30-27 overtime loss.

–Field Level Media