The Washington Commanders showed last week that they’re much more than the two-trick pony they were on offense in 2024 by pulling off an upset win on the road over the Los Angeles Chargers to improve to 3-2.
The tricks the Commanders did so well last year — quarterback Jayden Daniels running the ball or throwing to NFL All-Pro wide receiver Terry McLaurin — have actually figured very little into the first 5 games of the season.
The reason for that is Daniels and McLaurin simply haven’t been on the field together very much. After playing together and looking ineffective the first 2 weeks of the season, Daniels sat out the next 2 games with a sprained knee.
McLaurin, meanwhile, has been out the last 2 games with a quad injury.
His absence now looks like it will extend into a third game after NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport broke down how the week has been going for McLaurin headed into a Week 6 Monday Night Football matchup against the visiting Chicago Bears.
“For the Washington Commanders it does not seem like they’re going to have the service of one of their top wide receivers,” Rapoport said on Thursday, October 9. “Terry McLaurin, who has been battling a hip flexor injury, officially called a quad but more like a hip flexor, was not at practice (Wednesday) for the Commanders again and because he missed last week it does not bode well for his status. You would think to play in the game he would have to have a full practice to play and he hasn’t even had a limited practice yet.”
McLaurin did some light work at Thursday’s practice, where he warmed up with his teammates then did individual work with trainers.
McLaurin Had Reputation for Being Durable
Before this season, McLaurin had a well earned reputation for not only being one of the NFL’s elite wide receivers but one of its most durable stars.
In his first 6 seasons, McLaurin only missed 3 regular season games and saw his streak of 71 consecutive regular-season starts ended when he missed the Commanders’ Week 4 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. He’s also had 5 consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 receiving yards dating back to 2020 — and he had over 900 receiving yards as a rookie in 2019.
That the first serious injury problem of McLaurin’s career has hit just after he turned 30 years old in September might be of concern to the Commanders.
Of particular concern to the Commanders is they just signed McLaurin to a 3-year, $97 million contract extension on August 25 after he missed the entire offseason and almost all of the preseason in a prolonged hold out/hold in.
Age May Have Been Factor in Messy Talks
ESPN’s John Keim reported in August that the biggest sticking point in the ongoing, messy contract negotiations between the Commanders and McLaurin came from Washington’s analytics department and its firm belief he was past the age an NFL receiver should receive a top shelf ($30 million AAV) contract.
“This likely remains the biggest sticking point because it frames the argument for Washington,” Keim wrote on August 13. “McLaurin will turn 30 on Sept. 15, which means he’d be 31 when an extension begins. The Commanders rely heavily on analytics, and the numbers aren’t kind to receivers at that age. According to ESPN Research, over the past five seasons only three receivers 31 years or older have played at least 10 games and averaged 70-plus receiving yards per game; six have averaged 60-plus.”
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