Commanders Lose Marcus Mariota and Charles Omenihu Mid-Game Against Colts

The Washington Commanders are officially down two veterans for the rest of their matchup against the Indianapolis Colts.

Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that quarterback Marcus Mariota and defensive end Charles Omenihu have both been downgraded to out. Mariota is dealing with a knee issue, while Omenihu is sidelined with a groin injury.

"Ian Rapoport reported the downgrades on Sunday."

Losing your backup quarterback mid-game is the kind of depth chart stress test nobody asks for. It means the emergency glass is officially one bad hit away from being shattered, leaving the coaching staff holding their breath on every single dropback.

On the other side of the ball, losing Omenihu hurts a defensive front trying to keep Indianapolis in check. The Colts jumped out to an early 10-6 lead, and missing a rotational pass rusher does not make getting off the field on third down any easier.

For anyone holding live tickets on the Washington defense or sweating the game total, the margin for error just shrank. Less pressure on the quarterback usually translates to longer drives and exhausted secondaries.

Washington will have to patch the holes on the fly to pull out a comeback win today. After the final whistle, the focus immediately shifts to the training room and whether either veteran will miss extended time.