Everyone associated with the Washington Commanders was fearing the worst after wide receiver Terry McLaurin went down with a knee injury against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.
Unfortunately, these fears were realized.
Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed that additional tests confirmed McLaurin had suffered a torn patellar tendon at Levi's Stadium. He'll go to season-ending injured reserve, and the Commanders will now be without their most prolific pass-catcher for the remaining 11 games.
Terry McLaurin injury setback could be the end of his prolific Commanders career
There's also a real possibility this could be the end of McLaurin's time in Washington.
General manager Adam Peters will have a big decision to make with McLaurin next year.
He's suffered injury problems since signing a lucrative contract extension after a long standoff with the franchise, but this is precisely why Peters stood his ground. The front-office leader knew the risks attached to paying receivers over 30, and he wanted an out in case the worst happened with McLaurin.
That scenario has unfortunately befallen McLaurin and the Commanders. And with the Ohio State product's cap hit soaring to $34 million and $39.5 million over the final two years of his deal, a departure seems almost inevitable.
Peters structured the contract to protect Washington. No more money is guaranteed after 2026, and with McLaurin now set for a grueling period of rehabilitation, a lot of unknowns remain.
Perhaps McLaurin would be willing to restructure his contract with a pay decrease to stick around. But after standing his ground to get paid in the first place, that seems unlikely.
Terry McLaurin leaving would be heartbreaking for Commanders fans
The Commanders have enough cap space to absorb McLaurin's deal in 2027. That is dependent on his recovery and what reinforcements come into the building, but a situation could also emerge where Peters takes this chance to move from a true Washington modern-era great.
That would be gut-wrenching for fans, of course.
But the NFL is a business above everything.
McLaurin is focused on his recovery. Peters is focused on the now while also having more than half an eye on the future. And it might seem like a long way off, but this decision will come around quicker than he thinks.
Given that McLaurin is coming off such a serious knee injury, finding a trade partner will be more difficult. They might be willing to get a taker, but it would be for next to nothing in compensation.
That leaves just outright releasing McLaurin if Peters goes down this route.
According to Over the Cap, cutting McLaurin saves $16 million with an $18 million dead-cap figure. If the Commanders designated him with a post-June 1 release, the savings increase to $28 million with $6 million in dead money.
Nothing lasts forever. McLaurin was always going to leave the Commanders at some stage, and that time might come sooner than some fans were ready for.
McLaurin is beloved. He's been a constant through dark days, has played for the team under three different brands, and has been a beacon of hope amid the near-constant misery.
It will be heartbreaking to see McLaurin leave. But after this devastating setback, it's a very real possibility.
We wish McLaurin a smooth recovery. And when (or if) he does depart, he can rest knowing his place in franchise history is secured.
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