The Washington Commanders dropped to 1-3 on the 2026 season with Sunday’s 30-13 loss to the Indianapolis Colts in London. If you only look at the final score, you lose context for how both teams arrived at it.
The Commanders looked like they were about to steamroll the Colts early, as Odafe Oweh strip-sacked Daniel Jones on the second play from scrimmage. While Washington failed to score a touchdown, it did get three points. After another dominant drive, the Commanders kicked another field goal. Unfortunately, on the third-down play before the field goal, quarterback Marcus Mariota was injured. He did not return.
With Jayden Daniels already out, the Commanders were down to their third-string quarterback, rookie Athan Kaliakmanis. Shortly after
Kaliakmanis entered the game, Washington’s defense was called for a questionable penalty, and head coach Dan Quinn made an ill-advised decision to go for it on fourth down with a rookie seventh-rounder under center.
The game completely shifted.
While Kaliakmanis struggled, as you’d expect from a rookie quarterback making his NFL debut, he showed no fear. He took several big hits. He kept getting back up. In the third quarter, he finally struck gold, throwing a dime to wide receiver Treylon Burks for a 47-yard touchdown pass.
Athan Kaliakmanis goes DEEP for a beauty of a touchdown!@INDvsWAS on NFL Network
— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2026
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/JXB6CmxI9w
The corner he beat on the play: Sauce Gardner. The 25-year-old corner, once the highest-paid at his position and now No. 5 in pay, is also a two-time first-team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler. The Colts traded wide receiver Adonai Mitchell and two first-round picks to the New York Jets for Gardner last November.
That’s impressive, but everyone gets beat once. Right?
Kaliakmanis wasn’t done going at Gardner. Next, he found Dyami Brown for a big play on the other sideline.
Athan Kaliakmanis is letting it FLY.@INDvsWAS on NFL Network
— NFL (@NFL) October 4, 2026
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/GytCPyejQH
You have to appreciate the rookie showing no fear against the opposing pass rush or one of the NFL’s best defensive backs. By the end of the game, it would be Gardner’s worst NFL game statistically. He was targeted five times, allowed four receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown, according to NFL Pro.
Pro Football Focus said Gardner allowed a perfect 156.3 quarterback rating when targeted in Sunday’s game.
So while it was a rough day overall for the Commanders, this was impressive. With Jayden Daniels expected back next week, it’s unclear when Kaliakmanis will see the field again, but he showed flashes of why Washington picked him in the 2026 NFL Draft.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders' Athan Kaliakmanis went after Colts star Sauce Gardner in Week 4
