This means Washington is now relying on Athan Kaliakmanis, the next man up on the Commanders QB depth chart in London. Let’s keep in mind that the team is already missing starting QB Jayden Daniels, who isn’t playing for the Commanders due to injury.

Mariota got hurt after taking a sack and immediately headed to the blue tent to be checked by doctors. Only a few minutes later, the quarterback went to the locker room.

Who is Athan Kaliakmanis, the Commanders QB3?

With Mariota out, Kaliakmanis is making his NFL debut after being selected in the seventh round (223rd overall) of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Commanders in April.

Kaliakmanis made 42 starts in 48 college games for Minnesota before transferring to Rutgers, where he finished the 2025 season with a career-high 3,124 yards and 20 touchdowns.

During his time in college, he completed 56.3% of his passes for 8,604 yards and 55 touchdowns with 27 interceptions, adding two rushing touchdowns to his name while going 22-20 as a starter.

At 23, Kaliakmanis is now looking to prove the NFL what he’s made of as the Commanders deal with multiple injuries at the most important position. In case something happens to him, tight end Colson Yankoff would step in as the Commanders emergency QB after being a four-star QB in high school.

Key takeaways

• A first-quarter knee injury leaves Marcus Mariota out in Week 4.
• Starting QB Jayden Daniels is already not playing for the Washington Commanders.
• 223rd overall pick Athan Kaliakmanis is stepping in to make his NFL debut.

The Colts have a more established depth chart, with greater depth when it comes to their options. Anthony Richardson is listed as the primary backup in Indianapolis, while Riley Leonard would serve as the emergency QB if needed.

Daniels’ injury in Week 2, in a way, altered Dan Quinn’s plans. The Commanders have rookie Athan Kaliakmanis as Mariota’s backup, after the quarterback joined the franchise from the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Commanders insider Ben Standig reports that Washington’s emergency QB is tight end Colson Yankoff, who was a four-star high school QB.

Mariota has stepped up so far

Marcus Mariota has stepped in seamlessly for Jayden Daniels following his elbow injury, keeping the Commanders’ offense surprisingly sharp and efficient. Taking over late in Week 2 against Dallas and starting Week 3 against Seattle, Mariota has completed 30 of 47 passes for 294 yards, 4 touchdowns, and zero interceptions, boasting a stellar 109.7 passer rating alongside 14 rushing yards.

Rather than just holding down the fort, he’s provided a veteran spark that has kept Washington’s passing game dangerous and moving the chains. Dan Quinn can afford to rest his star player until he is fully recovered, as he clearly has enough depth to fill in for him.

Jones still has a lot to improve

Daniel Jones’ start with the Colts in this 2026 NFL season has been a bit of a rollercoaster, sitting at 611 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions with a 66.3% completion rate through his first three games. While he’s shown occasional flashes in Shane Steichen’s system, Jones clearly still has a long way to go to gain consistency, cut down on costly turnovers, and prove he can reliably power Indianapolis’ offense when the pressure builds.

Key takeaways

• 1-2 record for both Washington Commanders and Indianapolis Colts heading into Week 4.
• Anthony Richardson sits as the primary backup quarterback behind starter Daniel Jones.
• Athan Kaliakmanis is the Commanders’ backup QB behind Marcus Mariota.

It is well known that the league intends to continue expanding its reach to different locations, and London is once again set to host several games. In Week 1, the Rams and 49ers faced off in Melbourne, and now the Commanders and Colts will meet outside the United States.

Fans from different places will gather at the stadium and enjoy a great matchup between two teams looking to establish themselves among the contenders. Which team will ultimately be better represented by its fans inside the stadium?

More games in London

The remaining 2026 NFL London Games cross-pond slate brings two huge October matchups right after Week 4. First up on Sunday, October 11, the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in a marquee NFC-AFC showdown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Just one week later, on Sunday, October 18, Jacksonville stays across the pond to act as the home team again, taking on their AFC South rival Houston Texans in a division battle at the iconic Wembley Stadium.

International NFL games this season

Outside of London, things kicked off in Week 1 with a historical debut in Melbourne, Australia, where the San Francisco 49ers faced off against the Los Angeles Rams at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. In Week 3, the league made its Brazilian debut in Rio de Janeiro as the Baltimore Ravens took on the Dallas Cowboys at the Maracana Stadium.

Looking ahead to the rest of the fall, the NFL lands at the Stade de France on October 25 for a clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints, followed by a Madrid debut at Bernabeu Stadium on November 8 featuring the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons.

The global swing wraps up in November with the New England Patriots facing the Detroit Lions in Munich on November 15, before closing out in Mexico City on November 22 with a division-caliber matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Banorte.

Key takeaways

• Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will host nearly 60,000 spectators for the London game.
• Philadelphia Eagles vs Jacksonville Jaguars play in London on October 11, 2026.
• The global schedule closes in Mexico City at Estadio Banorte on November 22.

Weeks ago, Roger Goodell announced the two singers on social media, entrusting them with the important task. Levi will perform the verses of “The Star-Spangled Banner,” while Webb will do the same with “God Save the Queen.”

This game is one of several that will take place in London as part of an extensive international schedule that also includes various cities around the world. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is already ready to welcome the Commanders and Colts.

The third stop outside the U.S.

The clash between the Colts and Commanders at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium marks the third official game played outside the US this 2026 season, following the historic opener down under in Melbourne (Rams vs. 49ers) and Week 3’s showdown in Rio de Janeiro (Ravens vs. Cowboys).

But the league’s global tour is far from over—London still has two more back-to-back stops on deck in October (Eagles vs. Jaguars at Tottenham and Texans vs. Jaguars at Wembley), before heading to Paris (Steelers vs. Saints), Madrid (Bengals vs. Falcons), Munich (Patriots vs. Lions), and finally wrapping up in Mexico City (Vikings vs. 49ers) in late November.

Key takeaways

• Josh Levi and Mimi Webb will sing the national anthems before kickoff.
• Roger Goodell announced both singers on social media weeks ago.
• The matchup marks the third official game played outside the US this season.

According to information released by the NFL’s official website, a groin injury is the main reason Allen will not be alongside his teammates. Undoubtedly, this is a significant loss for Daniel Jones’ passing attack.

For the Commanders, McLaurin’s presence has also been ruled out. A hamstring injury he recently suffered during last week’s practice ultimately sidelines him for this important game.

Keenan Allen’s numbers so far this season

Keenan Allen’s start with Indianapolis in this 2026 NFL season has been pretty modest so far, pulling in 13 receptions for 100 receiving yards and a single touchdown across his first three games before going down. Now, with Allen sidelined on injured reserve, the Colts find themselves shuffling their target hierarchy big time: Laquon Treadwell and Josh Downs are set to step up as the primary WR1 options to keep the aerial attack moving.

McLaurin’s impact on the Commanders

Terry McLaurin‘s early 2026 run with the Commanders has been steady if a bit quiet, hauling in 10 catches for 141 receiving yards and a touchdown across his first three games. While those numbers might not jump off the stat sheet just yet, Scary Terry remains the focal point and undisputed leader of Washington’s passing game.

His ability to stretch the field with a solid 14.1 yards per catch keeps opposing defenses honest, opening up crucial space underneath for the rest of the offense and giving the Commanders a reliable big-play threat whenever they need a spark.

Key takeaways

• Keenan Allen is out due to a groin injury after recording 13 receptions.
• Terry McLaurin is also out for kickoff because of a hamstring injury.
• Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London hosts the 2026 NFL game between Indianapolis and Washington.

Behind Pierce on the depth chart is the name of Laquon Treadwell at LWR. Josh Downs is the primary option at SWR, as Ashton Dulin is also out, while Deion Burks is listed further down the depth chart.

Keenan Allen, who is facing a potential three-game suspension, is the primary option at RWR, with recently acquired Darius Slayton behind him. The Colts’ passing attack is slowly being forced to reconfigure.

What happened to Alec Pierce?

Alec Pierce suffered a left heel injury during the Colts’ Week 2 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night, September 20. It happened in the first quarter with non-contact drama—he was making a sharp cut on a route without the ball, lost his footing, and immediately came up limping before eventually being carted off to the locker room.

The tough part is that it’s an aggravation of the exact same heel and ankle issue he had offseason surgery on, which had already forced him to miss most of training camp. He’s expected to sit out several weeks to rehab it rather than undergoing another procedure, leaving Indy without one of their top deep threats for a chunk of the season.

Jones loses an important weapon

Pierce is coming off a massive breakout 2025 campaign where he truly established himself as one of the NFL’s premier vertical threats, hauling in 47 receptions for 1,003 yards, 6 touchdowns, and a wild 21.3 yards per catch.

That explosive big-play ability makes his recent heel injury a brutal blow for Daniel Jones, who loses his favorite downfield weapon for at least four weeks right as they were building serious chemistry.

Which games will Pierce miss?

With Alec Pierce sidelined for at least four weeks, he’ll be forced to watch a key stretch of the Colts’ schedule from the sidelines. He’s set to miss a big AFC South division battle at home against the Houston Texans in Week 3, followed by a trip across the pond to London to face the Washington Commanders in Week 4.

After that international trip, Indy hits the road again to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5, before finishing his required IR stint at home against another division rival, the Tennessee Titans, in Week 6. It’s a brutal run of games to miss, especially with crucial division matchups and a overseas trip on the docket.

Key takeaways

• Alec Pierce was placed on injured reserve and will miss at least four games.
• Receiver Laquon Treadwell sits behind Pierce at LWR on the team’s depth chart.
• The Colts play the Houston Texans in Week 3 to begin Pierce’s absent stretch.

Kansas City and Indianapolis couldn’t separate on the scoreboard, leading to one of the best games so far on the season, in primetime and on national television. However, as entertaining as it was, it left fans with a bittersweet taste in their mouths. Having played as late into the night as they did, many wanted to experience a tie.

However, it wasn’t to be, and that means there has yet to be a tie game in the 2026 NFL season. The last game that finished in a stalemate was one very early in the 2025 campaign.

When was the last time an NFL game ended in a tie?

There has only been one tie in the NFL since the regular-season overtime rules were changed to give both teams a possession. That was in Week 4 of the 2025 NFL season, when the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers tied at 40 points apiece.

As the Chiefs and Colts battled, it seemed the two sides were headed for a draw, as well. But it wasn’t to be. The last tie in an NFL game was also a Sunday night matchup, which only gave fans hope that history could repeat itself in Arrowhead.

When was the last time the Chiefs and Colts tied a game?

The Colts’ last NFL game ended in a stalemate was on Sept. 11, 2022. Back then, Indianapolis tied 20-20 against the Houston Texans in Week 1. Matt Ryan was the team’s QB, while Jonathan Taylor rushed for 161 yards and a TD.

As for the Chiefs, one must travel much farther back for their last draw in the NFL. Kansas City’s last tie was on Nov. 19, 1989, against the Cleveland Browns (10-10 final score). Steve DeBerg was the team’s starting quarterback back then.

It didn’t take long before the broadcast showed Swift in attendance at the luxury suite. Perhaps waiting for the perfect moment, that was provided by Kelce’s 13-yard touchdown catch. As Kelce celebrated in the endzone, Swift was enjoying the moment surrounded by friends and family up in the box.

By now, Swift attending Chiefs games has become routine. Just like expecting Patrick Mahomes to be Kansas City’s starting quarterback, as he will in Week 2 of the NFL against the Colts, Swift has reached that level of certainty.

As long as Kelce is playing, she will be joining Chiefs Kingdom in the stands. In pure “You Belong With Me” fashion, Swift is on the bleachers for Kelce’s primetime matchup against the Colts — well, not quite the bleachers, as she’s in a luxury suite — but you get the point.

Swift keeps perfect attendance

As Kansas City plays back-to-back night games to start the 2026 NFL season (Monday night in Week 1), Swift is off to a perfect attendance start to the campaign. Two for two at Arrowhead.

With no tours scheduled anytime soon and her new life next to husband Kelce in Missouri, there aren’t many reasons to believe Swift will miss games anytime soon. Not as long as Kelce and the Chiefs play at home, and if it’s in primetime and on national television, even better.

During Week 1, Swift was joined by Tom Cruise, leading to fans asking who his favorite NFL team is and whether Cruise is a Chiefs fan. In Week 2, at least as Swift was shown during the TV broadcast, she didn’t appear to be joined by any other celebrity. She may have no need for such company as long as she is close to her husband. Where Kelce is, Swift isn’t too far behind, and that stays true in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season.

Swift celebrates Kelce’s TD

In Week 2 of the NFL season, Kelce recorded his first touchdown grab of the campaign. Swift was in attendance, and in case anyone missed Kelce’s explosive play, Swift made sure to remind everybody who just scored. Pointing at her ring finger on her left hand (which has sported a wedding ring since July 3), Swift may have had the best celebration across all games on Sunday.

According to stats from USA Today, Kelce’s TD against Indianapolis was the ninth he scored with Swift in attendance — the first since Week 8 of the 2025 campaign.

A member of the Chiefs’ family

Gearing up for Week 2’s Sunday night showdown, Swift joined Kelce and others for Patrick Mahomes’ 31st birthday (Sept. 17) at the steakhouse owned by the Chiefs’ quarterback and tight end, 1587, as reported by People.

Clearly, Swift is another member of the big family in Kansas City, and she has another reason to attend games at Arrowhead Stadium: not only is her husband playing, but her friends are, too.

With such an elite talent behind, or next to, depending on the formation, the Colts’ and Chiefs’ starting quarterbacks, both teams could simply hand the ball off every play and still boast an offense to be reckoned with across the NFL. Still, Kansas City and Indianapolis both understand the importance of giving their star players some rest, especially this early in the season.

On that note, both teams have depth at the running back position, though it’s clearly a one-man wrecking crew show in both rushing offenses. Kansas City’s depth chart at half-back includes: Kenneth Walker III, Emmett Johnson, and Brashard Smith.

As for Indianapolis, Jonathan Taylor is joined by Seth McGowan and DJ Giddens in the RB room. With Giddens questionable for Sunday night’s game in The City of Fountains, the Colts could call up one of practice squad members Anderson Castle and David Booth.

Walker III and Taylor’s Week 1 outings

Both Walker III and Taylor put on a show in their Week 1 debuts of the 2026 NFL season. Walker III stole the spotlight in Kansas City’s 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos, registering 23 carries for 173 yards and a rushing touchdown. Walker III also caught three passes for 18 yards and a receiving touchdown.

Meanwhile, Taylor fell victim to his Colts’ struggles and the fact that they played from behind all day long against the Baltimore Ravens. Taylor still made the most of his 19 carries, putting up 98 yards on the ground and two TDs. He was also a factor in the passing attack, with three catches for 23 yards. Taylor had an uncharacteristic fumble that was recovered by the Ravens.

Snap percentage

If there were any doubts about Walker III and Taylor’s importance and primary roles on their teams, they became obsolete in Week 1. Taylor played in 48 of his team’s 54 offensive snaps (89% snap percentage) in Week 1, with second option McGowan playing six snaps (11%).

Looking over at the Chiefs, Walker III played 47 out of the team’s 70 offensive snaps (68%) in Week 1, while Johnson played 25 snaps (36%) and Smith didn’t see the field once.

Walker and Taylor shine in fantasy football’s Week 1

For fantasy football players across the league, starting either of them was always going to be the right decision. Still, they didn’t disappoint. Walker far exceeded his projections, putting up 34.1 fantasy points (point-per-reception), while Taylor delivered 25.1 points to those who own him in fantasy football.

Needless to say, points are expected to come in bunches when the Chiefs and Colts meet at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 2.

Albeit to different degrees, both signal-callers are staples under center for their teams. By now, fans across the NFL know they will be in charge of the fate of the pigskin. The same applies to the Chiefs and Colts’ running-back depth charts. Who will be behind Mahomes and Jones in the depth chart, and next in line should something happen to the starters, is the real question.

Justin Fields will be Kansas City’s second-string quarterback in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season. As for Indianapolis, it will be another question-marks-filled quarterback serving as backup: Anthony Richardson. Both young quarterbacks share similarities in that they are questioned on many of their traits, but no one denies how explosive they are with the ball in their hands and some room to run.

Emergency quarterbacks for Chiefs vs Colts

Both teams hope they don’t need to send any quarterback other than their starters on Sunday night—unless it’s a substitution as result of a blowout. Still, the Chiefs and Colts must brace for whatever may come their way. On that note, they both have a third, emergency quarterback designated.

In Kansas City’s case, it will be rookie Garrett Nussmeier. Indianapolis will have sophomore quarterback Riley Leonard in that role. As emergency QBs, Nussmeier and Leonard can only be brought into the gridiron if both signal-callers ahead of them are injured.

How did Mahomes and Jones play in Week 1?

Both Mahomes and Jones entered the 2026 NFL season after long injury rehab journeys. In his first game back from the torn ACL and LCL suffered late last year, Mahomes threw 15 completions for 184 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.

Mahomes cleared all concerns around his leg health with solid runs and movement in the pocket, along with 23 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground. In case it wasn’t clear enough, Mahomes clarified his leg injury status ahead of Week 2.

As for Jones, he suffered an Achilles tear last season. In his return, Jones threw more passes than Shane Steichen may have liked as Indy allowed an early lead to Baltimore in the 41-23 loss. Jones finished the day with 19 passes for 166 yards, a touchdown, and an interception.

Fantasy points in Week 1, Week 2 projections

Mahomes put up 21.6 points in fantasy football, per ESPN’s app, in Week 1’s statement win over the reigning AFC West champions, the Denver Broncos. Jones, meanwhile, had a rougher outing, finishing with only 9.04 points. Entering Week 2, Mahomes projects 18.22 points, while Jones is expected to record 13.9 points.

Regardless of whether they helped fans win in their leagues or not, both quarterbacks have put their 2025-season-ending injuries in the rearview mirror and appear fully healthy to guide their teams in 2026.

Coming off an ACL tear, Mahomes finished just 15/27 for 184 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for another TD. Still, media is questioning about his leg and Mahomes was clear on how he’s feeling.

“Yeah, I feel normal actually. I mean, it’s like a blessing and curse. You get sore everywhere else because you haven’t played football in so long. And so, the leg is like the least of my worries right now,” Mahomes said.

Mahomes played with no fear in Week 1

Mahomes picked his way through the defense for a 15-yard score to open the board. He ran through contact early in the first quarter. That is impressive given how many players would be hesitant to welcome contact like that after an ACL tear.

The fact is that Mahomes also saw help from star running back Kenneth Walker III. The Super Bowl MVP had 23 carries for 173 yards and two total touchdowns. Mahomes still needs to find his rhythm, but he is getting there and has help from the running game.

The Chiefs are strong favorites vs Colts

The Colts just received a 40-piece from the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, where they ran the ball at ease. The Chiefs will try to replicate that against them with a red-hot Kenneth Walker III.

However, the Colts also allowed 150 receiving yards to Zay Flowers. That could allow Mahomes to find proper connections with wideouts like Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy.