Washington Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota will get his second start in place of the injured Jayden Daniels on Sunday when his side face the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – live on Sky Sports.

Head coach Dan Quinn announced the decision on Friday after practice at the team’s hotel accommodations outside London.

Daniels returned to practice this week after dislocating his elbow in Week Two against the Dallas Cowboys. He’s been wearing a protective brace and had expressed no concerns about further damage, but the Commanders will hold him out for at least one more game.

“[Daniels] had a great week. It was awesome to have him back on the field in a limited fashion,” Quinn said. “He’ll be out. Marcus will start.”

Quinn called Daniels’ return to practice “a huge positive step for him and for us.”

“We’ll assess where we are next week when we get to a full week of practice all the way through,” the coach said.

Last week, Mariota threw three touchdown passes in the 33-31 win over the reigning champion Seattle Seahawks.

Daniels’ elbow dislocation was the second in as many seasons for Daniels, who missed most of the second half of last season with the same injury.

The third-year quarterback, who led the Commanders to the NFC Championship Game in his rookie season, had said on Thursday he was preparing mentally to start against the Colts and wasn’t worried about re-injuring the elbow.

“That’s what the brace is for,” Daniels said.

The Commanders host the New York Giants on Sunday, October 11. The team has a bye in Week Seven.

“Certainly, anytime you can practice, that’s a big deal,” Quinn said. “So for him to get back, that was a big step for us. Typical for him, he’s more ready than you’d expect. That’s just kind of how he is.”

Quinn was asked what he needs to see to put Daniels back on the field, and said: “It’s really just like an entire group medical performance.

“Where he’s at, the practice part was a big piece of that today. But next week we’re planning for him to get a full week of practice. That would be a big deal for us.”

Does Taylor need to spark for Colts?

Speaking on this week’s edition of Inside The Huddle, Neil Reynolds and Phoebe Schecter looked ahead to the game with both teams coming off wins in Week Three.

“When you come off a win you get a little bit of a different schedule, but you have hope and they both really needed these wins, especially the Commanders. The confidence that should give them, especially having Mariota at quarterback. That is exactly what we need going into these International games,” said Schecter.

The Colts have an offence still without wide receiver Alec Pierce and are waiting for quarterback Daniel Jones to get up to the speed of last year.

“They’re not the same without an explosive running game,” explained Schecter. “So much of that team is run through Jonathan Taylor and they’re struggling to get the ball going consistently. He has his sparks but there’s nothing that’s consistent. That’s forcing Daniel Jones into this uncomfortable position because right now your top players are Josh Downs and tight end Tyler Warren. That also limits where you’re able to throw it on the field.

“Other than that you got [Laquon] Treadwell, Keenan Allen. I mean if you’re this Commanders defence, you’re coming into it saying: ‘We’re going to take away everything inside and we’re going to force you to throw it outside to your lesser receiver and out you under pressure.’

“We’ve read that book before and saw it a couple of times last year when people felt they had Daniel Jones’ number.

“It should be a high-scoring game but I’m going to go with the Commanders.”

Reynolds said: “This is a game that Jonathan Taylor takes over. They don’t attack Washington through the air because they don’t have the weapons so this is a big Jonathan Taylor game. He’s going to touch the ball at least 30 times, so give me the Indianapolis Colts.”

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Before heading to Paris to cheer on Maltese Cross, Hollie Doyle penned her latest exclusive blog ahead of Arc weekend.

I’m with Maltese team in the Arc

I’m on the Maltese Cross team for obvious reasons in the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (3.05) at ParisLongchamp on Sunday, live on Sky Sports Racing. He gives my husband Tom [Marquand], his trainer William Haggas and owner George Waud an outstanding chance of winning this great race.

What he’s achieved this year has been pretty spectacular and I don’t think anyone’s seen the best of him yet. The Grand Prix de Paris and the Great Voltigeur at York were only the tip of the iceberg in terms of how good this horse could be.

He got roughed up a little in both those races but has a great mind for a three-year-old which will stand him in good stead again in the hurly burly of the Arc, particularly from his wide draw in stall 11.

Last year’s winner Daryz will of course be a tough opponent with the draw in his favour and looks to have been produced to the minute by his master trainer Francis-Henri Graffard, but Maltese Cross, whose only defeat came on softer ground in the Derby, will be a huge threat to all.

I’d love to see his British compatriot Kalpana make her presence felt, too. After all, Andrew Balding’s wonderful mare has proven she can compete against the boys at the top table by winning the King George and was impressive in the Yorkshire Oaks after that.

Great opportunity for Godolphin filly in Boussac

Green Empress is entitled to take the beating in a slightly disappointing renewal of the Qatar Prix Marcel Boussac Criterium des Pouliches (12.31) on Sunday.

Joseph O’Brien’s filly found only the prolific Sun Goddess too strong in the Moyglare Stakes on her latest start but any chinks in her armour could be exploited by Godolphin’s interesting runner Miss Miniver.

Though Green Empress’s market rival Allela could be anything at this stage, Roger Varian is backing the daughter of Wootton Bassett up quickly after her fourth in the Group 2 Rockfel at Newmarket so this could be a great opportunity to bag a fairly weak Group 1.

Folsom Blues to cash in for Joseph

Joseph O’Brien’s excellent season can continue with the progressive Folsom Blues in the Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere Longines (1.09) on Sunday.

The son of Blue Point lost nothing in defeat behind last weekend’s Cheveley Park heroine Sun Goddess in the Pheonix Stakes at the Curragh before returning to take the Group 1 National Stakes in most emphatic style.

He hasn’t been blessed with the best draw but has the class to overcome that while James Doyle’s mount Imperial Strike looks way overpriced in his quest to reverse Group 3 form with the unbeaten Avec Toi.

Shiri can reverse Trial form in Abbaye

It would be a great result for racing if Naana’s Shadow could win the Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp Longines (1.47) on Sunday for Galashiels trainer Katie Scott.

Katie, who trains only a small string, has worked wonders with this grey filly who won the Group 3 trial for this race over course and distance last month so deserves to be favourite.

However, her starting position in stall 13 isn’t great on such a draw-dependent track so I’m expecting Francis-Henri Graffard’s SHIRI to reverse that form while keeping a close eye on Harry Eustace’s Time For Sandals, who has the talent to go close if she can get back to her best form.

Precise can hit the right notes in Opera

Aventure will be a short price to supplement her Group 1 success in the Prix Romanet when she reappears in the Prix de l’Opera Longines (3.50) on Sunday. Christophe Ferland’s mare beat a below-best Diamond Necklace that day so I’m not sure how strong that form was, however.

I prefer Aidan O’Brien’s filly Precise, who hasn’t managed to get her head in front since winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot but had run well in top company before her underwhelming display in the Matron last time.

She’s much better than she showed on Irish Champions’ weekend so looks a strong alternative to the likely favourite with the ever-consistent Pink Panthera seemingly booked for another placing.

Stack colt looks best kept Secret

Fozzy Stack can strike a blow for Ireland in the Qatar Prix de la Foret (4.25) on Sunday with Thesecretadversary, who should be able to roll into a nice rhythm on a track that will play to his strengths.

Stepping back in trip looks ideal for the Jersey Stakes winner who is a value alternative to favourite Samangan, who only got the verdict in a bunch finish at Deauville last time so probably needs to find more.

Aidan O’Brien’s True Love was only fifth in that race and didn’t look herself in the Matron last month but is another who will appreciate dropping back in distance and can go well, too.

Haggas holds key to Saturday’s Cumberland Lodge

William Haggas, who runs the strongly fancied Maltese Cross in the Arc in Paris on Sunday, holds the key to the two feature races at Ascot on Saturday, including the Group 3 Bet MGM Cumberland Lodge Stakes (2.25), live on Sky Sports Racing..

Gallant veteran Al Aasy is definitely the class horse in the race and is definitely the one they all have to beat in this Group 3. He’s already won at a higher level this year and will get on well with Danny Tudhope.

Stablemate Tenability is ultra-tough as he showed when winning the Listed August Stakes at Windsor and looks fairly progressive but will need to step forward to put Al Aasy in his place.

Division to atone for narrow defeat

Division only just failed to nail the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest at Deauville last time – form that sets a demanding standard in the John Guest Racing Bengough Stakes (3.00).

William Haggas’s Wathnan Racing colt can compromise his chance with a slow start but if the race is run to suit him this represents a great opportunity to get a Group 3 success on his CV.

Any flaws could be exposed by Godolphin’s Hidden Force, who has undergone wind surgery since finishing a beaten favourite in the Craven back in the spring but could be anything, while Marco Botti’s Prince Of India must go well after his win in Listed company at Newmarket.

Hollie Doyle was speaking to Sky Sports Racing’s Simon Mapletoft.

Watch every race from Autumn Racing Weekend at Ascot live on Sky Sports Racing on Friday and Saturday