Commanders Get Shocking Injury Update on WR Terry McLaurin
With the Washington Commanders season on the line over the next month, they’ll likely have to make a go of it without one of the best players in the NFL.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Sunday, November 2, that NFL All-Pro wide receiver Terry McLaurin won’t just miss Week 9 against the Seattle Seahawks — there’s a chance he could miss the next 3 games.
“Commanders WR Terry McLaurin wasn’t placed on IR, but he’s out this week and likely next week,” Rapoport wrote on his official X account. “There is a chance he misses the Dolphins
The Commanders are 3-5 headed into a Sunday Night Football game against the Seahawks followed by a home game against the Detroit Lions in Week 10 and a trip to Madrid, Spain, to face the Miami Dolphins in Week 11 before their bye in Week 12.
McLaurin, who signed a 3-year, $97 million contract extension in August 25 after an extended holdout/hold-in, has already missed 4 games with a quad injury — the same reason he was forced to leave a 28-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8.
McLaurin scored his first and only touchdown of the season so far against the Chiefs.
“Terry McLaurin gotta be running out of PTO soon,” Roto Underworld’s Chuck Bass wrote on his official X account on Novembe 2. “Come on man.”
Commanders Offense Stalls Without McLaurin
McLaurin has been one of the NFL’s most consistent wide receivers throughout his career and finally got to do so on a winning team in 2024, when the Commanders went 12-5 and advanced to the NFC Championship Game for the first time since 1991.
The Commanders entered 2025 as one of the NFL’s leading Super Bowl contenders but have had to play without either McLaurin or star quarterback Jayden Daniels for most of the season.
Daniels has already missed 3 games — 2 games earlier this season with a knee sprain and the game against the Chiefs with a hamstring injury.
“With all the injuries to the Commanders this season, Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin have played only 2 games together this season,” The Athletic’s Nick Jhabvala wrote on her official X account on October 29.
McLaurin was ruled out against the Seahawks by the middle of the week.
“Commanders WR Terry McLaurin is out for Sunday after reinjuring his quad, coach Dan Quinn said,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account on Wednesday, October 29. “A setback for
Might Be Lost Season for Commanders
For McLaurin and the Commanders, it’s almost starting to look like a lost season.
It all comes afterMcLaurin and the Commanders found themselves in extended, messy contract negotiations that didn’t end until he signed the 3-year, $97 million contract extension on August 25 which included a $30 million signing bonus and $44.65 million in guaranteed money.
What that mess may have ultimately cost the Commanders may have just been their season — the Commanders have lost 3 straight games headed into their game against the Seahawks.
Before 2025, McLaurin had been one of the NFL’s most durable stars. Headed into the season he’d only missed 3 games, total, in his career and hadn’t missed a game since 2020.
Fitzpatrick Needs to be a Star for the Dolphins’ Defense
Fitzpatrick Needs to be a Star for the Dolphins’ Defense
The Miami Dolphins need their stars to step up for them to be successful in 2025.
And for the Dolphins defense, there is no bigger star than safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
Fitzpatrick’s presence is in a much-needed position as well.
With Kader Kohou out for the season and many new pieces just added in the secondary before a crucial AFC week 1 match-up against the Colts, Fitzpatrick needs to be the playmaker that he is paid to be in the backend of the defense.
Yes, Miami has playmakers in the front seven, such as Chop Robinson, Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, and Jordyn Brooks.
However, Fitzpatrick must be the best of the best for Miami to take the next step.
That is what Chris Grier thought of Fitzpatrick when he decided to draft him in 2018.
And he was proven correct by Fitzpatrick’s play when the safety was in Pittsburgh.
From 2019 to 2022, he was arguably the best safety in the NFL, recording 17 interceptions and three touchdowns.
Fitzpatrick also added three fumble recoveries.
Yes, he had a down year, which was part of the reason he became available in a trade.
But now that he is back and comfortable in Miami, he should be able to turn it around.
And what position makes the biggest impact in Anthony Weaver‘s scheme?
The safety.
Just look at Kyle Hamilton.
Drafted in 2022 to be a do-everything safety out of Notre Dame, Hamilton has developed into the best safety in the league, as he can play all over the field.
I expect Fitzpatrick to play that same role for the Dolphins this year.
Similar to Hamilton, Fitzpatrick is at his best when he can play as a rover/robber and pick off crossing routes.
Picking off passes is what made Fitzpatrick a top-tier player in this league.
Miami hopes to regain the form he showed in his early years with the Steelers.
If so, the Dolphins will have a top-5 defense in 2025.
