Lightning HC Gives Unfortunate Injury Update on Center
It was the day before most NHL training camps were set to open and that means rosters of players participating in camp were set to come out. But with training camp rosters, comes players that coaches have to announce have injuries or have surgery for said injuries that will make them miss training camp or longer into the start of the regular season.
That was unfortunately the case for Tampa Bay Lightning center Nick Paul. As his head coach Jon Cooper took the stand at NHL Media Days, he announced that Paul had to have surgery on his wrist and will be out until the beginning of November.
Missing the first month of the season is a bummer for the veteran forward, as Paul is one of the mainstays on the Lightning roster. He not only centers their third line for the most part, he also can play in the top six if called upon.
Paul is also somebody that is super versatile when it comes to special teams. He can really help out on the team's second powerplay unit and he can also kill penalties when it is needed. Paul finished the 2024-25 season tallying 24 goals and 19 assists in 76 regular season games played.
Paul is one that really helps out on the scoresheet outside of the usual players putting up points like Jake Guentzel, Nikita Kucherov, and Brayden Point among others. Not having Paul out there for the first month of the season for the Lightning is really going to hurt them. The Lightning last season had an issue with finding consistency at center outside of Point and Paul.
So, they are going to have a tough time finding somebody that can really step up and step into his role and put up points while he recovers from his surgery. The Lightning will open the 2025-26 season hosting the first two games of their season at home against two playoff teams from the previous season.
They host the Ottawa Senators on October 9 and the New Jersey Devils on October 11. Those are two tough matchups right out of the gate, especially without the services of Paul.
Jayden Daniels Out: Marcus Mariota to Start for Commanders in Week 3
The Washington Commanders won’t have superstar quarterback Jayden Daniels in Week 3 and will start veteran backup Marcus Mariota in his place against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3.
MRI tests revealed Daniels suffered a PCL sprain in a 27-18 Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Mariota is in his second season as Daniels’ backup and signed a 1-year, $8 million contract on March 12 after playing on a 1-year, $6 million contract in 2024.
“Now official: Commanders HC Dan Quinn said Marcus Mariota will start Sunday versus the Raiders,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on September 19.
Mariota filled in for Daniels in 2024 after he injured his ribs in the first quarter of a 40-7 Week 7 win over the Carolina Panthers. Mariota looked sharp that day, going 18-of-23 passing for 205 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions to go with 11 carries for 34 yards.
He also saw extended action in the regular season finale, going 15-of-19 passing for 161 yards, 2 touchdowns and no interceptions to go with 5 carries for 56 yards and 1 touchdown in a 23-19 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
Mariota, Daniels Have Plenty In Common
Mariota and Daniels have a lot in common aside from just how they play — starting with both being similar size. Mariota is 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds while Daniels is 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds.
Both players were No. 2 overall picks in the NFL draft. Mariota was picked No. 2 by the Tennessee Titans in 2015 and Daniels was picked No. 2 in the 2024 NFL draft by th Commanders.
Both were rookie starting quarterbacks. Mariota went 3-9 in 2015 and Daniels went 12-5 in 2024, leading his team to the NFC Championship Game.
Both played in the Pac-12 Conference. Mariota starred at the University of Oregon. Daaniels started his career at Arizona State before he transferred to LSU for his final 2 seasons.
Both Mariota and Daniels are also part of college football’s most exclusive club — Mariota became Oregon’s first Heisman Trophy winner in 2014 and Daniels won the Heisman Trophy at LSU in 2023.
