LONDON — It was already going to be a tall task for the Commanders to escape London with a victory over the Colts without starting quarterback Jayden Daniels and top receiver Terry McLaurin.
But losing several additional players throughout the game, including quarterback Marcus Mariota, proved to be too much in a 30-13 loss for Washington that dropped them to 1-3 on the season.
The Commanders, coming off a spirited upset of the defending champion Seahawks last week, lost Mariota on the second drive of the game to a knee injury. They then lost defensive end Charles Omenihu at the end of the first quarter, and returner Jaylin Lane and safety Jeremy Reaves within two minutes of each other at the start of the second half.
It looked like the team could weather the previous injuries early on. The defense allowed one total yard through the first three Colts possessions, including a strip-sack and fumble recovery by edge rusher Odafe Oweh. With just under two minutes left in the second quarter, Colts quarterback Daniel Jones was pressured into throwing an interception to cornerback Rasul Douglas.
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But even with Mariota in the game, the offense struggled. They were gifted the ball at Indianapolis’ 21-yard line after the Oweh fumble recovery but moved the ball just 8 yards and settled for a Drew Stevens field goal. On their next possession they marched 70 yards down the field but the drive stalled when Mariota was sacked on third down on the play in which he was injured, leading to another Stevens field goal.
A turnover on downs midway through the second quarter led to a Jonathan Taylor touchdown. And Athan Kaliakmanis, filling in for Mariota, threw an interception 51 seconds into the start of the second half.
The rookie did have some impressive moments, however, including a beautifully thrown 47-yard touchdown bomb to Treylon Burks in the third quarter that kept Washington in the game. The seventh-round pick out of Rutgers finished the game with 186 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 15-of-33 passing.
But by the end of the third quarter the team was worn down. The defense — which had performed well most of the game — allowed a nine-play, 52-yard drive at the top of the fourth quarter that put the game out of reach.
This story will update.
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