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Commanders OC Kliff Kingsbury Puts Front Office on Notice Over Terry McLaurin

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Aug 15, 2025 5:43 PM ET

The Washington Commanders are just three weeks away from their season opener against the New York Giants, and star wide receiver Terry McLaurin is still a hold out.

The 29-year-old wideout initially reported to Commanders training camp, he was placed on the physically unable to perform list not long after as he refuses to play a single snap under his current contract.

McLaurin formally requested a trade two weeks ago with the Commanders seemingly unwilling to meet his $30 million-per-year salary demands, but no progress has been made toward hashing out a new deal, leading to rising tension on both sides.

“I've been pretty frustrated, I'm not going to lie,” McLaurin told reporters. “Everything that has transpired up to this point has been disappointing and frustrating. I want to continue my career here. I've created my life here. My wife and I bought our first home here.

“So this has been somewhere I've always wanted to be. Just to see how things have played out has been disappointing. Obviously, I understand everything's a business. But at the same time, I want to put myself in a position where I'm valued, I feel appreciated and things like that. Unfortunately, that hasn't transpired the way I want it to.”

The situation is seemingly becoming dire for everyone outside of the front office, and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury took the opportunity to put general manager Adam peters on notice, expressing it might be time to concede and give McLaurin what he’s asking for.

“There hasn't been a ton of contact,” Kingsbury said Friday, per the Washington Post. “He's been here, but he's been working with trainers. … We're kind of at that point where we need to start getting those guys when they're available out there and gelling and see what we are.”

To Kingsbury’s point, the Commanders’ WR corps is Deebo Samuel and a whole bunch of question marks without McLaurin.

Noah Brown had 35 catches and 453 yards last season, but he’s more suited to a WR3/4 role than a No. 1 or 2. Michael Gallup had an 1,107-yard season four years ago, but he’s come back down to earth as a 400-yard receiver ever since.

Luke McCaffrey showed some promise as a rookie in 2024 (18 catches, 168 yards), but he’s still pretty green, and K.J. Osborn had back-to-back 650-yard seasons in Minnesota in 2021 and 2022, but he played in just seven games last year and is pretty much a wild card at this point.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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