Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin Cooper Neill/GettyImages

Commanders on edge as Terry McLaurin injury cloud grows heavier

Originally posted on Riggo's Rag | By Dean Jones | Last updated Sep 25, 2025 1:31 PM ET

The Washington Commanders are no clearer on figuring out wide receiver Terry McLaurin's status for Week 4 against the Atlanta Falcons. And for fans, there are growing concerns about whether his possible absence could be for even longer than that.

Head coach Dan Quinn revealed that there would be no more official updates regarding McLaurin until the final injury designations are confirmed on Friday. The gifted pass-catcher went out in the third quarter versus the Las Vegas Raiders with what the team disclosed as a quad issue. But the wideout getting several different opinions shrouds this situation in mystery.

McLaurin also reportedly sought the counsel of the country's top core muscle expert. That could mean the quad isn't the main thing bothering him. But again, nobody knows for sure right now.

Terry McLaurin's second-straight absence raises alarm bells for Commanders

One thing fans have noticed is the absence of McLaurin's presence at practice. He was a no-show on Wednesday. Fans were eager to see if this would change on Thursday. They were out of luck.

No Terry McLaurin (quad), Noah Brown (groin/knee) or John Bates (groin) at Commanders practice.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 25, 2025

The former Ohio State standout wasn't risked for the second-straight day. Nothing has been confirmed one way or another, but it's hard to envisage a scenario where McLaurin suits up in Week 4 unless he takes the field in some capacity on Friday.

This is yet another massive headache for the Commanders to deal with. They are already without several established stars on both sides of the football, who are either on injured reserve or recovering from nagging ailments. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury hinted that he is already devising his strategy in case McLaurin is unable to play. The smart money suggests that he'll need these contingency plans.

If McLaurin is forced to miss multiple weeks, that would be a much bigger problem. The Commanders have some big tests upcoming, and most of them are on the road. This offense needs the second-team All-Pro fit to reach the huge expectations on their shoulders. Any lengthy absence could prompt general manager Adam Peters to get creative, potentially making another bold move in pursuit of filling the void.

The Commanders need to show the correct resolve. McLaurin is an outstanding performer on the field and an inspirational leader in the locker room. If he doesn't suit up, which is becoming increasingly likely, the onus is on others to take advantage of the significant opportunity that lies before them.

Anything less, and the Falcons have the defense capable of making things extremely difficult.

This article first appeared on Riggo's Rag and was syndicated with permission.

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