Of all the games Washington Commanders wide receiver Noah Brown could return to the lineup for, coming back to face the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football in Week 6 certainly has some extra flavor to it.
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said Brown was back at practice on Wednesday, October 8, and working toward a hopeful return against the Bears — a team Brown will be tied to the rest of his life after his “Hail Maryland” touchdown catch beat the Bears in Week 8 of the 2024 regular season, .
Brown has been out since he hurt his groin in a Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
The Commanders brought Brown back for 2025 on a 1-year, $3.25 million contract.
“He’s doing well, he’s getting closer,” Quinn told the media on Wednesday. “Having the extra day off this week helps, but we’ll see where the rest of the week takes us.”
While Brown was back at practice, NFL All-Pro wide receiver Terry McLaurin was not as he deals with a quad injury that’s kept him out of the lineup the last 2 weeks.
Brought Career Back to Life With Commanders
Noah Brown brought his career back to life in one season in Washington, where he wasn’t even on the roster until the Commanders picked him up 1 day after he was released by the Houston Texans as part of their final roster cuts on August 27.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine had Noah Brown listed as a viable free agent WR2 or Wr3 option for several teams before the Commanders brought him back.
“Someone like Noah Brown could be a good answer (as a free agent),” Ballentine wrote in February 2025. “He is an underrated receiver who has helped the Commanders offense get off the ground this season. He’s another deep threat who could fit a vertical passing game.”
Behind One of NFL’s All-Time Greatest Catches
In last year’s Bears-Commanders game — also at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Maryland —Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels found Brown on a 45-yard Hail Mary touchdown pass as time expired for the win.
Brown was missing, however, when the Commanders put together a magical run to the NFC Championship Game. He ended the season on injured reserve after injuring his kidney in a Week 14 win over the Tennessee Titans but had 35 receptions for 453 yards and 1 touchdown in 11 games.
The Commanders were praised for moving quickly to bring Brown back to a team that’s trying to show they’re legitimate Super Bowl contenders but are 3-2 to start the season.
“(Brown) has good size at 6-foot-2 and 225 pounds — something Washington needed — and plays physical,” ESPN’s John Keim wrote after Washington re-signed Brown on March 13. “He’s a good third option along with Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel … Despite his production Brown again finished on injured reserve and has missed a combined 13 games the past two seasons. The Commanders could add another young outside receiver as insurance. But as long as Brown stays healthy he should deliver for them again.”
The Commander lost the player who replaced Brown in the lineup — wide receiver Dyami Brown — to a 1-year, $10 million free agent contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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