Commanders vs Colts Live: Athan Kaliakmanis became an unexpected storyline in the Washington Commanders vs Colts game on Sunday.
The rookie quarterback entered the game after Marcus Mariota suffered a right knee injury in the first quarter. With Jayden Daniels already ruled out, Washington was suddenly down to its third quarterback.
That gave Kaliakmanis his first regular-season NFL appearance.
Who Is Athan Kaliakmanis?
Kaliakmanis is a 23-year-old quarterback from Antioch, Illinois. The Washington Commanders selected him with the 223rd overall pick in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
He began his college career at Minnesota before transferring to Rutgers for his final two seasons. At Rutgers, he started all 25 games he played during the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Across his college career, Kaliakmanis completed 658 of 1,168 passes for 8,604 yards, 55 touchdowns and 27 interceptions. He appeared in 48 games and made 42 starts.
Athan Kaliakmanis College Stats
Kaliakmanis played two seasons at Minnesota before moving to Rutgers.
In 2022, he threw for 946 yards with three touchdowns and four interceptions. He followed that with 1,838 yards, 14 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 2023.
His numbers improved after arriving at Rutgers. He recorded 2,696 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2024.
His best college season came in 2025. Kaliakmanis passed for 3,124 yards, 20 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 62.2 percent of his passes.
| Season | Team | Passing Yards | TD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Minnesota | 946 | 3 | 4 |
| 2023 | Minnesota | 1,838 | 14 | 9 |
| 2024 | Rutgers | 2,696 | 18 | 7 |
| 2025 | Rutgers | 3,124 | 20 | 7 |
Why Is Athan Kaliakmanis Trending?
Kaliakmanis entered Sunday as Washington’s third-string quarterback, but injuries suddenly changed his role.
Mariota left after taking a sack from Colts defensive lineman Laiatu Latu. Kaliakmanis then took over for Washington.
His first NFL completion went to tight end Chig Okonkwo for a two-yard gain.
For a seventh-round rookie who had yet to take a regular-season NFL snap, the opportunity arrived much sooner than expected.
Now, all eyes are on Kaliakmanis as he looks to make the most of his unexpected NFL debut.
Also Read – Marcus Mariota Injury: Commanders QB Questionable to Return With Knee Injury in London
