Terry McLaurin’s injury admission sends Commanders fans into panic mode

Washington Commanders fans were thrilled to have wide receiver Terry McLaurin back from a four-game absence in Week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs. But the injury problem that caused him to miss so much time remains at the forefront.

McLaurin didn't carry an injury designation into the clash, but it's evident the wideout is nowhere near 100 percent. The Commanders treated him with extreme caution on Monday Night Football, even though the pass-catcher came up with two jaw-dropping receptions during the defeat, one of which went for a touchdown.

On the second of these sensational grabs, McLaurin clearly aggravated the quad issue. The Commanders didn't risk any further damage, removing him from the field with the negative result all but confirmed. And based on the player's post-game comments, there's no guarantee that he'll be suiting up in Week 9 versus the Seattle Seahawks at Northwest Stadium.

Terry McLaurin and the Commanders remain day to day with his ongoing quad problem

The former Ohio State standout confirmed that it's a day-to-day situation that continues to give him discomfort. McLaurin wants to be on the field with his teammates, but the player and the team will see how he comes out of this game health-wise before deciding on his status moving forward.

"It's alright. I'm just trying to take it day by day, just monitoring it. It's a little sore and everything, so any time I can be out here just fighting for the team, I'm always going to put myself out there. So, just see how the week goes, and go from there."

Terry McLaurin viia NBC4 Sports

Playing through the pain barrier is nothing new for NFL players. It's a brutal business, and nobody comes through unscathed. McLaurin has endured more frustrations than most this season, which came after a summer contract standoff that caused him to miss most of Washington's offseason program.

It's not hard to see why these honest comments about his injury are causing panic among Washington's passionate fan base. McLaurin is an integral part of the team's plans, and he reminded everyone of his importance with some notable flashes on prime time. With the Commanders' season hanging by a thread, not having him available in the coming weeks could be catastrophic to the team's hopes of turning things around.

If McLaurin can play, he will. At the same time, the Commanders cannot risk this quad problem becoming something that jeopardizes his chances of being impactful over the latter stages of his playing career.

This is also why Adam Peters wanted to protect the Commanders regarding McLaurin's latest contract extension. Injuries and performance regression were always possible, but nobody expected the second-team All-Pro's health to become an issue so soon. Managing this effectively is key, and Washington's decision-makers cannot let the team's precarious situation cloud their judgment.

It's a shorter week, and there is no time to wallow in self-pity. But not for the first time this season, McLaurin's status is worth monitoring in the coming days.