The Commanders will be starting rookie No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels at quarterback to open the season in Tampa Bay tomorrow. Behind Daniels, though, Washington had to make a couple of roster moves at quarterback. Prior to tomorrow’s game, the Commanders announced that they would place Marcus Mariota on injured reserve while signing practice squad passer Sam Hartman to the active roster. 
Mariota was set to enter the season as the veteran backup option behind the team’s rookie starter. Today’s transaction, though, means that the former No. 2 overall pick in 2015 will be out for at least the next four games. With Mariota out, the new veteran backup with starting experience is Jeff Driskel.
A former sixth-round pick for the 49ers back in 2016, Driskel has never entered the season as a starter, but he has notched 12 starts in 24 game appearances over his eight years in the NFL coming off the bench. Over that time, Driskel has a record as a starter of 1-10, but he has shown some efficiency with a 16-10 touchdown-to-interception ratio in his career.
Behind Driskel, the newly promoted Hartman will serve as the emergency QB3. A six-year college quarterback who transferred from Wake Forest to Notre Dame for his final year of collegiate ball, Hartman overcame a nagging injury history to become a successful starter for both the Demon Deacons and the Fighting Irish. He signed with Washington as an undrafted free agent and failed to make the initial 53-man roster but was signed to the practice squad shortly after being waived.
Joining Hartman off the practice squad, linebacker Nick Bellore and defensive tackle Sheldon Day will be promoted as standard gameday practice squad elevations for tomorrow. Unlike Hartman, Bellore and Day will revert back to the practice squad after the team’s matchup with the Buccaneers.
Mariota wasn’t a good insurance plan for Daniels, but this sure ain’t better.
What’s the Marriota injury? Bruised ego?
I mean, this time there can’t have been any illusion that he was brought in to start.
You and I know that, but does MM??
Yes. Last time it was him versus a third round pick. This time it’s a second overall pick. He knows the assignment.
So, Driskel was already on the 53-man when Mariota was expected to be the backup? it is a smart move to carry 3 QBs on the main roster but most teams aren’t. Until I saw that there were two other elevations, I figured Driskel would be one. An elevated QB can be the backup but not the emergency QB
I use to think the Bears were the leader in bad QB investments (Mike Glennon) but I may have to reevaluate that opinion.