Is Terry McLaurin playing today? Full injury update for Commanders WR in Week 8

The Washington Commanders need all hands on deck to stand any chance of upsetting the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8 on Monday Night Football. Unfortunately for head coach Dan Quinn, the cards are stacked against him once again.

It's been one demoralizing problem after another this season. The Commanders had high expectations of going into the postseason after their memorable run to the NFC Championship game last time around. A 3-4 record with some challenging games upcoming quashed these hopes, and although Quinn isn't looking for excuses, the health concerns surrounding his playing staff haven't helped at all.

One of the most notable absences was wide receiver Terry McLaurin. The second-team All-Pro didn't practice all summer due to a contract standoff with general manager Adam Peters. It went on much longer than anyone expected, becoming a dark cloud over the team's preparations for the new campaign.

McLaurin got his money, but only when it fit into the Commanders' long-term strategy.

Commanders will finally get Terry McLaurin back in Week 8

Inevitably, this meant McLaurin had to shake off the rust over Washington's early games. And any hopes he had of securing another 1,000-yard receiving year were dashed by a quad/hip injury suffered in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders.

The Commanders didn't place McLaurin on injured reserve, but he hasn't been seen since. Quinn offered hope at the start of each week, but it amounted to nothing. After four frustrating absences, things looked much more promising before Washington's prime-time showdown versus the Chiefs.

Quinn stated that McLaurin would definitely practice this week. Fans had heard this all before, but the former Ohio State star did manage to get back into the mix. And after three straight sessions of full participation, the Commanders didn't give their most prolific wideout an injury designation heading into the clash.

McLaurin is back. He won't have Jayden Daniels under center, but veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota has enough established chemistry with the wideout to make an impact. And from a morale perspective, having the two-time Pro Bowler and Deebo Samuel Sr. active will give everyone a massive boost.

Expecting miracles from McLaurin would be foolish. He's missed a lot of football, dating back to the offseason. It'll take time to find his groove again, so it'll be interesting to see how much offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury puts on his plate during a highly anticipated return to action.

Either way, the Commanders are better with McLaurin involved. It's time for the pass-catcher to remind fans of that fact.