Commanders Dealt Major Injury Setback Against Seahawks
It didn’t even take one half for the Washington Commanders to run into some bad luck against the Seattle Seahawks in a must-win Week 9 home matchup.
The Commanders, already down bad in terms of skill position injuries, took another direct hit when second year wide receiver and return specialist Luke McCaffrey was injured and quickly ruled out for the rest of the game.
“Commanders ruled out Luke McCaffrey due to a shoulder injury,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account.
McCaffrey appeared to hurt his shoulder when he was slammed to the ground returning the opening kickoff.
The Commanders were already down one wide receiver with NFL All-Pro Terry McLaurin out with a quad injury — the fifth game McLaurin has missed this season.
McCaffrey has been having a breakout year in his second season. After finishing with just 18 receptions for 168 yards and zero touchdowns as a rookie in 2024, he has 11 receptions for 203 yards and 3 touchdowns through 8 games to go with 953 all purpose yards as the Commanders’ full time kick returner.
Gamblers Lose Minds Over McCaffrey Injury
Perhaps the biggest reaction to McCaffrey’s injury online came from the world of gambling, where bettors across the country who bet on offensive prop bets involving McCaffrey lost their collective minds.
How, they asked, could any bet on McCaffrey’s offensive prop bets be in play if he never played an offensive down?
“FanDuel, I need my Luke McCaffrey bets to be voided.” NFL Podcaster Damian Adams wrote on his official X account.
“Since Luke McCaffrey got injured before playing a single offensive snap do his first quarter yards get voided?” Betting Dad wrote on X.
“We’re aware that Luke McCaffrey left the game during the 1st Quarter with a possible injury,” FanDuel Support wrote on its official X account. “His status is being monitored. We will provide further Bet Protect updates as they become available.”
“Luke McCaffrey has been ruled OUT — #EarlyExit is in effect,” DraftKings Support wrote on its official X account. “All qualifying bets (including LIVE) will be honored, and withdrawable cash credits will be distributed within 24 hours.”
McCaffrey Bounced Back From Rough Rookie Year
McCaffrey is the son of former NFL wide receiver and 3-time Super Bowl champion Ed McCaffrey, his father, and the younger brother of San Francisco 49ers running back and 2023 NFL Offensive Player of the Year Christian McCaffrey.
The Commanders seemed like they may have reached to get McCaffrey with a third round pick (No. 100 overall) in the 2024 NFL draft.
“He’s got size, he’s got speed, he’s got great movement skills, and I think he’s only going to ascend,” Washington general manager Adam Peters told Commanders.com’s Zach Selby in May 2024.
This year, McCaffrey has seemed like an entirely different player.
In a much needed win over the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 5, McCaffrey set up a score with a 50-yard reception from fellow 2024 rookie Jayden Daniels.
“Luke McCaffrey three weeks in a row showing why the Commanders staff have stayed consistently high on him,” Last of the Fullbacks wrote on its official X account on October 5. “A lot of potential in a guy still only in year 2 of learning to play WR full time.”
Packers’ Matt LaFleur Reveals Christian Watson Week 8 Status
The Packers will enter the Week 8 showdown on Sunday night against the Steelers in Pittsburgh with more sideshows than usual, of course, as the team gears up to play against franchise icon Aaron Rodgers for the first time. While those sideshows will be interesting, they will be of little consequence once the game gets underway.
Of more concern to wins and losses here in 2025 is the status of the team’s injured players, some of whom are beginning to trickle back onto the active roster. First up in that regard is wide receiver Christian Watson, whose injury-pocked Packers career appeared to be potentially over when he tore his ACL in the final week of the 2024 season in January.
But Watson has worked hard to return to the field, and has had his practice window opened after his stint on IR. He is eligible to play this week, and says he feels he is ready to get back on the field. Coach Matt LaFleur said the team is still not so certain he will be out there.
“Let’s just get through the week and see where he’s at,” LaFleur said.
Reminded that Watson has practiced nine times already, LaFleur said his return is more complicated than just the state of his knee: “I think a lot of it is getting reacclimated, you’re talking about a long layoff without football. Just trying it build him up so he can handle the demands that are going to be placed on him on game day.”
Packers’ Devonte Wyatt Could Return
Also of interest is the knee injury suffered by defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt, who has been out since the Week 4 tie with the Cowboys because of a knee injury. He has been back at practice this week, and his return would be big–Wyatt has been among the better defensive linemen in the league this year.
There’s some hope he will be back on the field Sunday night.
Said LaFleur: “He has looked pretty good. A lot of it is going to be how he responds today and on into Sunday before we make a decision.”
Meanwhile, rookie receiver Matthew Golden was a late addition to the injury report, having hurt his hip during Friday’s practice.
GettyPackers head coach Matt LaFleur.
Brandon McManus ‘Kicked Well’
The other major injury situation looming for the Packers is that of kicker Brandon McManus, who has missed the past two games with a quad injury. McManus kicked on Thursday and LaFleur said he spoke to him on Friday.
“He kicked well,” LaFleur said. “My conversation with him this morning, he said he feels great. That will be a medical decision at the end of the day.”
Packers ‘Potentially’ Could Carry 2 Kickers
A McManus return could force the Packers to let go of replacement kicker Lucas Havrisik, who has gone 10-for-10 on field goals and extra points in his two-week cameo. He also made a franchise-record 61-yard field goal on Sunday in Arizona.
The Packers would likely have to cut Havrisik to bring back McManus. If they attempt to demote him to the practice squad, it’s almost certain that another kicker-needy team will scoop him up.
LaFleur was asked about keeping two kickers on the 53-man roster, a rarity in the NFL. He said: “Potentially, if it comes to that, if we absolutely have to. I’d rather not if I’m being honest about it. This situation could be a little bit different.”
