Terry McLaurin’s camp exchange has Commanders fans buzzing for one reason

Terry McLaurin has been seldom seen throughout training camp as he awaits a new deal from the Washington Commanders that hasn't been forthcoming as yet.

The wide receiver held out for the first few days, but those $50,000 per day fines always add up in the end. McLaurin came back and was immediately placed on the physically unable to perform list with a supposed ankle injury. The club states this is legitimate, but most fans believe the second-team All-Pro is holding-in until his extension is resolved.

McLaurin's often come out after practice to sign autographs and converse with the fans, but nothing more. But that all changed during the Commanders' special Burgundy vs. Gold scrimmage on Tuesday.

The optics of Terry McLaurin's relationship with Commanders are changing for the better

Washington's most prolific pass-catcher was out on the field with his teammates, albeit on the sidelines. More importantly, McLaurin was spotted talking briefly to general manager Adam Peters, which sparked the fans into a collective frenzy on social media along the way.

It might seem innocent to those who haven't been paying attention. But it's a seismic shift from the previous actions of both McLaurin and the Commanders. The optics completely changed, which gives Washington's loyal supporters fresh hope that a satisfactory conclusion can be reached sooner rather than later.

McLaurin is a competitive guy. He'd have loved this scrimmage between the players, who were split up and went through typical game scenarios. It was a fiery session that made everyone better. Although he wasn't involved, it was great to see him as an interested onlooker.

It was even better to see him in dialogue with Peters. This suggests that the relationship isn't as fractured as some would have you believe. If it were, the pair would have given each other a wide berth to avoid a potentially more heated exchange.

This also brought a sense of calm to the fans. They've become increasingly concerned in recent weeks. McLaurin watching practice and speaking to Peters isn't much to those who aren't invested, but it provided a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel that everything would work out in the end.

Just when that'll be is debatable. One or both sides need to come down from their respective stances to find some middle ground. Everyone wants the same thing, or at least they should. At the same time, Peters won't do anything that jeopardizes his future flexibility to build a long-term NFL powerhouse.

This has shifted the dynamic slightly. And fans are right to latch onto every positive step.

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