Washington Commanders

For the second-straight season, health has been an issue at quarterback for the Commanders.

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With Jayden Daniels’ elbow injury, Marcus Mariota has once again been asked to lead Washington’s offense early in the 2026 season, leading the team to an upset of the Seahawks in Week 3. But on Sunday, with the Commanders taking on the Colts in London, it was Mariota heading to the locker room.

Washington went deeper into its quarterback depth chart with rookie Athan Kaliakmanis.

Here’s an introduction to Kaliakmanis, including he went to college and more.

MORE: Latest injury updates on Marcus Mariota

Who is Athan Kaliakmanis?

Kaliakmanis is a 23-year-old rookie quarterback with the Commanders. He was selected by the team in the seventh round of April’s NFL Draft.

Kaliakmanis appeared in the preseason with Washington, but was slotted in behind Mariota on the depth chart heading into the regular season. In London, he took the first official snaps of his professional career when Mariota left with an injury.

Rookie QB Athan Kaliakmanis is in at QB for the Commanders after an injury to Marcus Mariota https://t.co/9Dotr8T1c1

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— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) October 4, 2026

Athan Kaliakmanis college

Kaliakmanis spent three seasons in college at Minnesota before a two-year stint at Rutgers, where he started for the Scarlet Knights in the 2024 and 2025 seasons. His brother, Dino, also transferred from Minnesota to Rutgers after the 2023 season.

In 2024, he finished with 2,696 yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and in 2025, he totaled 3,124 yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

According to the NFL Network broadcast, Kaliakmanis is the first Rutgers quarterback to take snaps in a regular season game since 2005.

Athan Kaliakmanis is in at QB for the Commanders @INDvsWAS on NFL Network Stream on @NFLPlus https://t.co/jgeyD7LGGN

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— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2026