Washington Commanders fans are getting pretty used to the sight of Terry McLaurin strutting onto the practice field without pads, doing very little, and then being ruled out when the final injury designations are confirmed. It's been the story of the last month for the second-team All-Pro wide receiver, who was ultra-durable before a luckless run in 2025.
And the latest insider intel didn't exactly paint a promising picture for his involvement in Week 7 against the Dallas Cowboys.
McLaurin has been seldom seen on the field in any capacity over the last few months. His long, drawn-out contract battle with the Commanders was frustrating, denying him valuable reps in the summer to hone his craft. To make matters worse, the wideout suffered a quad/hip injury against the Las Vegas Raiders and has been missing from the lineup ever since.
Terry McLaurin injury is having a huge impact on Commanders' chances
It's been akin to Groundhog Day for McLaurin and the Commanders in recent weeks. Dan Quinn states his optimism about his status on Monday. The former Ohio State was expected to get a heavier workload this week, but it never materialized. He did not participate on Thursday, and he walked to the sidelines when the team finished the stretching portion of practice on Friday.
That only means one thing — something Tom Pelissero from the NFL Network all but confirmed during his latest update on the wideout.
"There is real uncertainty about whether either of these guys will be on the field on Sunday."@TomPelissero on injury concerns for Commanders receivers Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel. pic.twitter.com/UHedGlJRGg
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) October 17, 2025
This is quickly becoming a disaster of epic proportions. McLaurin is an integral part of everything Washington does on offense. Not having him around is causing significant ripple effects, and Kliff Kingsbury's frustrations are clearly growing. With Noah Brown now on injured reserve and Deebo Samuel Sr. also dealing with a heel problem, it's not looking especially promising for the Commanders entering their Week 7 showdown against Dallas.
It could be the week Robbie Chosen gets called up from the practice squad to join Jaylin Lane, Luke McCaffrey, and Chris Moore. The Commanders signed Treylon Burks, but this game is going to come too soon.
None of these options compares to McLaurin. He's considered among the league's most prolific for a reason. Not having him is a body blow, especially considering the Dallas Cowboys are set to welcome back CeeDee Lamb to pair with George Pickens.
Thankfully, the Commanders still have Jayden Daniels, and the Cowboys' defense is a mess. That should be enough to provide some solace amid the doom and gloom.