Washington Commanders fans got the chance to see their heroes on the practice field for the first time at training camp. And they were given a nice surprise by the return of wide receiver Terry McLaurin to Ashburn.
The gifted wide receiver ended his contract holdout, although no new deal has been agreed upon as yet. Washington placed McLaurin on the physically unable to perform list with an ankle injury, but having the pass-catcher back in the mix was a fantastic development nonetheless.
And McLaurin is back for one (or two) painfully obvious reasons.
Terry McLaurin made Commanders return for the fans and his teammates
The former third-round pick out of Ohio State elaborated on them after coming onto the practice field to sign autographs. McLaurin was given a conquering hero's reception, and the significance of the support he's received from teammates and fans isn't lost on the wideout.
"It feels good to be around my teammates and around my fans. I can’t beat that at all. They show me a lot of love and support, and I just try to give that back, not just on the field but off the field. It's unbelievable. That's the part that gives you joy. You kind of lose sight of some things when the business gets involved, but I've never lost sight of the way they've supported me, and the way I pour into them and they've poured into me. So, at the end of the day, it's business, but it's got nothing to do with them. It's tough. You know, it's the business right now, so just trying to take things day by day."Terry McLaurin
🚨Terry McLaurin reports to camp (no deal yet), talks fan support:
— NBC4 Sports (@NBC4Sports) July 27, 2025
"I never lost sight of the way they supported me... at the end of the day it's business but it has nothing to do with them"
Keim: "Why'd you want to come in today?"
Terry: "I'm here"@JPFinlayNBCS #RaiseHail pic.twitter.com/4a2R2C3gtC
He's back for them.
McLaurin's stance with the front office hasn't changed. He feels disrespected and doesn't feel like the Commanders are matching his worth right now. But that won't stop him from giving back to those who've shown him unconditional love and support throughout a saga that's dragged on longer than most expected.
A new deal might not take much longer to arrive. As McLaurin said, he's taking things day by day. Nothing's really changed despite his return. If he were practicing, it's a different story. But he's not (and probably won't) until his new extension is ready to be signed.
Until then, McLaurin will do what he does best. He'll be a beacon of hope. He'll be the best possible teammate, albeit not on the field right now. He'll be a figurehead that fans can look to for inspiration. That won't alter, regardless of whether his contract predicament gets resolved or not.
And there is nobody more deserving of another financial commitment.