Commanders WR Terry McLaurin keeps winning without lifting a finger

Terry McLaurin isn't participating in team activities due to his contract standoff with the Washington Commanders. But the wide receiver keeps stacking wins without lifting a finger.

McLaurin is firm in his valuation stance. Adam Peters is, too, which has resulted in the Commanders' most prolific pass-catcher missing months of preparations through holdouts and hold-ins. The next step was clear, which the wideoout took by officially handing in a trade request upon his return to the facility.

That wasn't granted by the Commanders, although there is a growing sense that this relationship might be more fractured than fans initially thought. Everyone is hoping for a successful resolution to this ongoing saga, but McLaurin's position has strengthened in recent days despite not being on the field with his teammates.

Commanders' wide receiver depth is floundering without Terry McLaurin

Joint practice with the New England Patriots exposed the Commanders' lack of receiver depth. The dynamic is completely different without McLaurin, and these concerns were heightened after a woeful preseason showing at Gillette Stadium.

Aside from undrafted rookie Ja'Corey Brooks, who brought in all five of his targets, there wasn't much to encourage. There were some crucial drops in key moments. Those who got significant playing time struggled to create separation. It was a rude awakening that also provided some much-needed leverage to McLaurin along the way.

It's only the preseason. There are still a few weeks until their regular-season opener against the New York Giants. But the last few days have proved what could potentially go wrong if Peters doesn't get something worked out with McLaurin.

The front-office leader won't be reactionary. Peters isn't going to panic and bow to McLaurin's demands just because the last week hasn't gone quite according to plan. He's always looking at the bigger picture, and paying a supposedly aging wide receiver more than $30 million per year isn't in his thought process.

That much is obvious.

Fans are growing increasingly worried. They want McLaurin to resume his position as a franchise cornerstone and arguably the league's best in contested catch situations. And the lack of consistency from those further down the pecking order without the second-team All-Pro taking up attention is glaring.

The Commanders still hold the cards unless McLaurin threatens to give up pay in the regular season, which amounts to $850,000 per game. Nobody is anticipating that, so the sooner this dark cloud hanging over the organization lifts, the better Washington's chances will be.

And the clock is ticking.

More Commanders news and analysis