Why Commanders will beat Raiders even without Jayden Daniels
The Washington Commanders are turning to veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota as their starter against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The Commanders will be without Jayden Daniels, but head coach Dan Quinn made it clear the team has full confidence in Mariota’s ability to run Kliff Kingsbury’s offense.
Washington now faces a Raiders defense that has struggled against the pass, giving Mariota a real chance to keep the team on track.
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Dan Quinn’s Confidence in Mariota
Dan Quinn downplayed any concern about the quarterback change, emphasizing Mariota’s preparation and his grasp of the system.
“When we have him here it's having two QBs in the building and we've been together now going into our second season,” Quinn said.
He noted Mariota’s recovery from a recent Achilles injury and praised how quickly he regained his rhythm during the first weeks of the season. That familiarity and steady presence are what the Commanders are leaning on as Mariota takes over.
Mariota’s Track Record and Fit in the Offense
Mariota is no stranger to stepping in and delivering when needed. Last season, he appeared in three games, completing 34 of 44 passes for 364 yards and four touchdowns while also rushing for 92 yards and another score. He led the offense after Daniels’ injury against the Panthers and handled the second half of the regular-season finale versus the Cowboys with poise.
His dual-threat ability brings an added dimension, giving Kingsbury flexibility to adjust the game plan against Las Vegas. For a Commanders team trying to avoid offensive lulls, Mariota’s efficiency and mobility could prove valuable.
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The Matchup Against the Raiders
The Raiders bring both challenges and opportunities. They own one of the league’s best run defenses through two weeks. According to Fox Sports, they are giving up just 70.5 rushing yards per game, but their passing defense ranks 27th overall, allowing 276 yards per contest. That weakness in the secondary could give Mariota room to attack, especially if the Commanders' playmakers can exploit mismatches. Maxx Crosby is the clear game-wrecker up front, but outside of him, Las Vegas has struggled to generate consistent pressure. If Mariota avoids mistakes and gets the ball out quickly, the Commanders can turn the Raiders’ defensive imbalance into an advantage.
Washington may be turning to its backup quarterback, but the situation is far from bleak. Mariota’s experience, Quinn’s trust, and a Raiders defense vulnerable through the air give the Commanders a path to victory on Sunday.
Red Sox Keeping Kristian Campbell, At Least Six Others Ready For Playoffs
As the Triple-A regular season comes to an end this weekend, the Boston Red Sox need a plan in place to keep as many players as possible ready for emergency big-league duties.
Boston has eight games left in the major league regular season entering Saturday. It sorely hopes the playoffs are still to come thereafter, and at any point, an unexpected injury or even a major slump could create an opening that needs to quickly be filled.
So, at the conclusion of the weekend, the Red Sox are preparing to send just about every Triple-A player on the 40-man roster to the team's complex in Fort Myers to "stay ready," according to a report from MassLive's Chris Cotillo.
"Stay-ready" squad includes Campbell, Garcia, Perales
According to Cotillo, the confirmed players heading to Fort Myers include position players Kristian Campbell and Jhostynxon Garcia, plus pitchers Isiah Campbell, Jovani Morán, Cooper Criswell, Luis Guerrero, and Luis Perales, who made his Triple-A debut on Wednesday in just his second outing since returning from Tommy John surgery.
Triple-A Worcester manager Chad Tracy sounded off on the purpose of this makeshift reserve squad, any of whom could theoretically be pressed into duty if something goes haywire in Boston.
“Mostly, you’re dealing with all the guys that are on the 40-man here, pitchers and hitters that are going to just go down there and be able to get reps and stay ready,” said Tracy, per Cotillo. “If you’re on the 40-man roster, you’re receptive to that and know you’re still a part of potentially helping up there.”
Another player will be added to the group whenever outfielder Wilyer Abreu is activated from the injured list. Abreu traveled to Tampa to join the Red Sox on their road trip in advance of Saturday's game with the Tampa Bay Rays, but his availability to play has not yet been confirmed.
Campbell is an obvious candidate to rejoin the roster, as he spent nearly three months in the majors as a rookie this spring. But the most intriguing name on the list is Perales, a 22-year-old right-handed fireballer who profiles as a future starter in Boston, but could hypothetically be an impact arm out of the bullpen at any time.
It's possible we see none of these players in the majors the rest of the way, and Perales may be the least likely of the bunch. But as long as they're still working hard, they never know when their name might get called.
