There isn’t a lot of joy to be derived from anything to do with the Washington Commanders this season, which has been 3 months of misery preceded by 6 months of what seemed like boundless hope.
The Commanders were supposed to be Super Bowl contenders. They were supposed to be playing important games at this time of the year, not contemplating whether or not they should put oft-injured quarterback Jayden Daniels on ice until 2026
The only hope that remains would be from an improbably series of events that would see the 3-8 Commanders reel off 6 consecutive wins to end the regular season and sneak into the playoffs. That would match the 6 consecutive games they just lost.
The latest injury update from the Commanders at least keeps those incredibly dim hopes alive, with starting wide receivers Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel and Noah Brown all practicing together.
“Terry McLaurin, Deebo Samuel and Noah Brown,” ESPN’s John Keim wrote with a picture of the 3 players at practice on his X account on Wednesday, November 26. “First time all 3 WRs have been on the practice field together since Week 2.”
Brown hasn’t played since injuring his groin in a Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers. McLaurin, an NFL All-Pro in 2024, has missed 7 games due to a quad/hip flexor injury and hasn’t played since a Week 8 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Samuel’s Role in Offense Drastically Changed
Samuel has been the one steady piece of the group, having played in 10 out of 11 games. He also leads the Commanders with 53 receptions for 470 yards and 6 total touchdowns while his role drastically changed from the WR2/X-Factor the Commanders envisioned before the year.
“Without reliable, productive receivers around him, Samuel has turned into a possession receiver,” Riggo’s Rag’s Jonathan Eig wrote on November 26. “It is possible this would have happened even if everyone had been healthy, but the eye test suggests that he can still make plays. The wideout needs complementary talent around him so that the Commanders can take advantage of all he can do. As players, including quarterback Jayden Daniels, return, that chance could be coming soon. A little too late to save the season, but it should be fun to watch regardless.”
Daniels, last year’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, has missed games due to 3 different injuries this season — 5 games in total — and hasn’t played since he dislocated his left elbow in a Week 9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
McLaurin Biggest Disappointment of Trio
If we are putting together an All-Disappointment Team for the 2025 season, you can pencil Daniels in at quarterback and McLaurin in at one of the wide receiver spots.
McLaurin’s lengthy contract hold out in the preseason and offseason kept him away from working with his team and cost him a critical offseason working with Daniels, which showed when he returned after signing a 3-year, $97 million contract extension on August 25.
In the time he has been in the lineup, McLaurin just hasn’t been very productive with 13 reception for 203 yards and 1 touchdown in 4 games.
McLaurin was coming off the best season of his career in 2024 with 82 receptions for 1,096 yards and a franchise record 13 touchdowns to go with 14 receptions for 227 yards and 3 touchdowns in 3 playoff games.
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