It only took one practice for Terry McLaurin to leave injury concerns in the dust

Terry McLaurin was considered an ultra-reliable iron man before this season. The Washington Commanders' wide receiver never missed games, and he'd never been out for an extended period. As fate would have it, that all changed during the campaign in which he held out all summer waiting for a new contract.

Any player can get hurt, whether they practiced over the offseason or came in off the street on short notice. The conspiracy theories are nothing more than that; it's just an unfortunate coincidence that has clearly held the Commanders back this season.

McLaurin suffered a hip flexor/quad injury in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders. He returned against the Kansas City Chiefs but reaggravated the issue, putting him on the shelf again. But with some extended rest and more rehabilitation, the Commanders are hopeful he can feature in some capacity on Sunday Night Football this weekend.

Terry McLaurin looked sharp during his return to Commanders' practice

Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed that McLaurin, along with fellow long-term absentee Noah Brown, would return to practice this week. Both were on the field to begin preparations for the Denver Broncos on Wednesday, and it seemed as if the second-team All-Pro was eager to put any injury fears to rest.

A video from practice shared by Scott Abraham from 7News DC showed McLaurin looking sharp and explosive. He was moving with more freedom than at any stage since the injury, which bodes well for his chances of being a focal point with the prime time spotlight glaring.

McLaurin is just focused on making plays and staying healthy upon his return. There will be no Jayden Daniels to depend upon. Still, his rapport with veteran backup Marcus Mariota could be profitable if Washington's offensive line can somehow keep Denver's dominant defensive front in check.

The former Ohio State standout will be urgently trying to make up for some lost time. McLaurin is a difference-maker; a legitimate No. 1 wideout with the ability to take over games. He's a supreme leadership presence in the locker room and the model of consistency on the field. To say he's been missed would be a massive understatement, so it'll be fascinating to see what offensive improvements arrive now he's back in the fold.

That won't be enough to salvage anything from the campaign. But the mere fact that McLaurin is suiting up is going to give everyone associated with the Commanders a morale boost at the perfect time.

What comes after that is unclear.