The Washington Commanders are back in action this week, taking on the Denver Broncos in a Sunday Night Football showdown from the friendly confines of Northwest Stadium.
Washington will be looking to end both its own six-game losing skid as well as the Broncos' eight-game winning streak, and anything is possible. Helping matters for the Commanders is that they'll be getting some much-needed reinforcements.
Safety Will Harris will play for the first time since Week 3. Defensive lineman Daron Payne returns from a one-game suspension that rendered him unavailable against the Miami Dolphins in Madrid. Most importantly of all, two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Terry McLaurin is back.
Terry McLaurin must remind Commanders fans of his dominance
McLaurin has only appeared in four games in 2025, and he's left two of them early. Even when he was healthy, he largely did not look like the version of himself that Washington is accustomed to. He has accumulated 203 receiving yards and one score on 13 catches this season.
His year likely got off to a slow start due to a lack of conditioning after McLaurin held out throughout the summer in a contract dispute with the organization. Throughout his career, he has consistently been a durable and reliable contributor, so the injury-riddled direction of his 2025 campaign has been quite an unexpected snag.
All is not lost, though. Playoffs may be out the window, but there are six games left for the Commanders to find a rhythm and build momentum that can carry over into 2026. That starts with getting their top contributors back, namely McLaurin and quarterback Jayden Daniels, who have played together just twice this season.
McLaurin's health may be the most critical ingredient towards getting the Commanders right. As we have seen this year, Daniels isn't superhuman. Like any quarterback could be expected to, he's taken his lumps with no consistent receiving weapons beyond Deebo Samuel Sr.
When McLaurin is available, the whole offense opens up. Washington can get solid production out of its backup options, but he is the team's only wideout who can make game-changing plays on the regular. His ability to come down with highlight-reel contested grabs, especially in the end zone, is not matched by many.
Distractions and injuries have stopped McLaurin from being able to contribute at a high level in 2025, almost certainly ending his streak of five-straight 1,000-yard seasons. Many have blamed his offseason drama for the Commanders' disastrous year, which is ridiculous. Some have already second-guessed his contract extension after spending the entire offseason passionately begging for it.
Recency bias is quite the drug. It's time for McLaurin to remind the Commanders of his value.