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For the second straight week, three former Oregon Ducks quarterbacks—Marcus Mariota of the Washington Commanders, Bo Nix of the Denver Broncos, and Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers—experienced varying degrees of misfortune. All three signal-callers saw their teams lose on Sunday, marking another challenging week for the Oregon pipeline.
In London, the Washington Commanders' injury woes deepened during a 30-13 defeat to the Indianapolis Colts. Marcus Mariota, the former Oregon star and Heisman Trophy winner, exited the game with an apparent knee injury. Before leaving, he completed 3 of 4 passes for 46 yards and ripped off a 35-yard run.
Since taking over for Jayden Daniels, who suffered a severe elbow injury, Mariota had been impressive. In Week 3, he guided the Commanders to a 33-31 upset over the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, throwing for 183 yards and three touchdowns. His latest injury is a significant blow for Washington, which now turns to rookie quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, a former Rutgers Scarlet Knights passer. The Commanders do have some good news: Daniels is expected to return for their Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants. Despite the knee issue, Mariota performed admirably in Daniels' absence, helping the team secure a win over one of the NFC's top squads.
At Levi's Stadium, two of the NFL's stingiest defenses squared off as Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos aimed to build on their victory over the Los Angeles Rams. However, the Broncos fell short on the road, losing 24-14 to the San Francisco 49ers. Nix completed 25 of 42 passes for 214 yards and one touchdown—a 13-yard strike to wide receiver Jaylen Waddle late in the fourth quarter. Through four games, Nix has thrown for 605 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions, and Denver now sits at 2-2.
In Seattle, the struggles continued for Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers, who were defeated 30-23 by the Seahawks at Lumen Field. Herbert threw an interception on the very first play, setting the tone for a dismal outing. He finished 19 of 31 for 189 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. The former Ducks standout has now thrown a pick in every game this season. With the loss, the Chargers drop to 0-4, and their playoff hopes are fading fast. Up next, Los Angeles will host another former Oregon quarterback, Bo Nix, and the Denver Broncos in Week 5 at SoFi Stadium.
Key Analysis
The simultaneous setbacks for Mariota, Nix, and Herbert highlight the unpredictable nature of the NFL. While Mariota had been a bright spot for Washington, his injury leaves the Commanders thin at quarterback. Nix showed flashes but couldn't overcome a stout 49ers defense. Herbert's interception streak and the Chargers' winless start raise questions about their ability to turn things around, especially with a tough schedule ahead. All three former Ducks will look to rebound in Week 5, with Nix and Herbert set to face off in an intriguing Oregon reunion.
Originally reported by headtopics.