Terry McLaurin has missed the first two days of practice before a crucial game against the New York Giants. The wide receiver missed Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts with a hamstring issue that flared up beforehand, and the Washington Commanders appeared to err on the side of caution despite his eagerness to play.
This missed time could mean more.
And that is a big problem.
Terry McLaurin is in danger of become less reliable for the Commanders
McLaurin has dealt with injuries over the last couple of years. It's the first time these problems have come up in his prolific career, but that is always the danger when receivers get into their 30s.
Last year was a frustrating blip. If McLaurin has to miss another game this season with the team's fortunes hanging by a thread, that will be even more disappointing.
That's what general manager Adam Peters worried about.
The former Ohio State standout and Washington's front-office leader were embroiled in a long contract standoff last year that threatened to spill over. Both sides were dug into their respective stances, and the Commanders only paid McLaurin when the deal's structure was relatively team-friendly.
Peters has been around a long time. He knows the trend of receivers getting hurt often or falling off the performance cliff when they turn 30. And even though McLaurin is still playing well when on the field, his availability is becoming less frequent.
It's disappointing and frustrating in equal measure.
But it's an unfortunate fact.
Commanders need Terry McLaurin, but his future beyond 2026 might be murky
Obviously, nothing has been set in stone. The Commanders might be keeping McLaurin on ice, giving him all the time he needs to heal before giving him the green light at Northwest Stadium. At the same time, hamstrings are hard to manage.
And they can flare up again for someone who relies on quick movements and speed, such as McLaurin.
This isn't what McLaurin had in mind, to put it mildly.
Last season was a gut punch for everyone, including the second-team All-Pro. He was determined to help the team and get back to his old form this season. That looked like a guarantee after his starring Week 3 effort against the Seattle Seahawks, but new roadblocks emerged immediately after.
McLaurin has taken one step forward and two steps back lately. If he does miss the game, it'll be a race against time to be healthy for Monday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers. If not, then it'll have to be after the bye week.
And Peters will note all this before a big decision is due next year.
McLaurin has two more years remaining on his deal, counting $34 million and $39.5 million on Washington's salary cap. There is no more guaranteed money, which is precisely why Peters wanted to cover his bases.
Having a receiver who costs so much and can't stay healthy doesn't seem smart, but the Commanders have an out if they decide to trade or release McLaurin. That would be a last resort, at least next season, but $39.5 million in the final year of his contract means his time in Washington might be running out.
There is a long way to go before then. But McLaurin's status looks a little shakier after more injuries surfaced.
And even though he means so much to the Commanders, the NFL is a business above all.
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