Jayden Daniels, Commanders Dealt Unfortunate Terry McLaurin News

Amber Searls-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect

Jayden Daniels, Commanders Dealt Unfortunate Terry McLaurin News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Oct 20, 2026 3:30 PM ET

Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders came up just short on Monday night, falling 23-17 to the unbeaten San Francisco 49ers after a rally that began too late. The defeat drops Dan Quinn’s team to 1-4-1 and leaves the Commanders last in the NFC East.

Daniels still turned in a big night, throwing for 300 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, including 212 yards on 22-of-30 passing after halftime as the offense chipped away at a 20-3 deficit.

The comeback attempt fell apart late, though, when a delay on fourth-and-8 forced a timeout, and then an intentional grounding penalty with the ball on San Francisco’s 28-yard line killed the final drive.

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin.Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images via Reuters Connect

The night also brought a more worrying development for Washington’s offense, because Terry McLaurin never made it out of the first quarter. With 1:56 left in the period, the team’s lead receiver went to plant his foot mid-route when his left knee buckled, and he was carted off with an air cast on the leg. In seven snaps, he had caught one pass for 27 yards.

On Tuesday, Quinn confirmed that the receiver tore his patellar tendon, an injury that requires surgery and will sideline him through the end of the 2026 campaign.

Hamstring trouble had already cost him the Week 4 game against the Colts, yet he still caught 15 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown in the five games he played. He also topped 1,000 yards in five consecutive years between 2020 and 2024, which only adds to how much his absence will be felt.

That leaves Daniels without one of his most trusted targets and shifts the focus to the rest of the receiving group. Stefon Diggs, who has four touchdowns this season, is in line to become the top option, while Treylon Burks (four catches for 66 yards against the 49ers), Dyami Brown and Antonio Williams will need to contribute more.

Tight end Chig Okonkwo could matter even more underneath after his seven-catch, 69-yard night.

Washington returns from its bye week to host the Philadelphia Eagles at Northwest Stadium on Sunday, November 1, with kickoff set for 8:20 p.m. ET.

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

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