Terry McLaurin Injury Update
He’s dealing with an ankle injury and is on the Physically Unable to Perform list — which is a mouthful that basically means, “yeah, he’s here… but he’s not really here.”
McLaurin showed up to training camp in late July, ankle still not right from last season’s lingering issue. It’s the kind of injury where you wince more from the uncertainty than the pain itself — because how many times have we heard “it’s just precautionary” before watching a guy miss a month?
User @cwallse noted that cornerback Jonathan Jones has been added to the Washington Commanders’ injury list, with no specific details disclosed. Also absent from the Burgundy & Gold scrimmage due to injury or placement on the PUP list were Terry McLaurin, Sam Cosmi, Marcus Mariota, Noah Brown, Brandon Coleman, Jordan Magee, Javontae Jean-Baptiste, and Bobby Price.
The strange part is that he’s physically present. Pads on. Smiling with teammates. But if you look closer, he’s not running routes, not cutting, not giving that signature burst down the sideline. Instead, he’s standing in sweats on the sideline, clapping after big plays like a proud uncle.
That’s great for morale, but it’s a reminder that his ankle — and maybe the situation — isn’t game-ready.
And to be honest, I get it. If you’ve been the offense’s backbone for years, why risk a shaky joint before you’ve got financial security? It’s like driving your old reliable car on a cross-country trip before the mechanic fixes the brakes.
Is Terry McLaurin Playing Week 1?
Probably not. And that’s not just injury pessimism talking — the signs are everywhere. He hasn’t practiced fully. He’s still on PUP. And there’s a contract thing hanging in the air that you can almost see, like steam rising off asphalt.
The offense without him? Rough. In a recent intrasquad scrimmage, the Commanders’ defense absolutely bossed the offense. No deep threat. No chain-moving slant game. It was like watching a band without its lead singer — all drums and bass, no melody.
There’s also the small matter of timing. Even if his ankle magically felt perfect tomorrow, there’s chemistry to rebuild with the quarterback, playbook reps to sharpen, and rust to scrape off.
So unless something miraculous happens, you’re looking at a Week 1 lineup without number 17 — which changes the whole identity of the offense.
And here’s a little personal truth: I’m all for players taking their time to heal. I’ve seen too many rush back, try to be a hero, and end up limping through half a season. If that means missing an early September Sunday, so be it.
Terry McLaurin Contract
Right now, he’s on a three-year deal worth about $68 million that he signed in 2022. It runs through the 2025 season, pays him about $22.7 million a year, and came with a signing bonus big enough to make most of us wonder what we’d do with $28 million (spoiler: still wouldn’t buy the stadium beer at $15 a pop).
User @Barstooldmv shared that, according to John Keim and a league source, the Washington Commanders and wide receiver Terry McLaurin could be close to finalizing a contract worth about $28 million annually.
User @JayDanielsMVP reported that, per a league source, the Washington Commanders could ultimately agree to a $28 million annual deal for wide receiver Terry McLaurin, with the team focused on compensating him for expected future production rather than past achievements.
But here’s the rub — McLaurin wants a new deal now. He’s reportedly eyeing numbers in the D.K. Metcalf range, which is north of $30 million a year.
And Washington’s front office? They’re hesitating. Some of it is the age factor (he’ll turn 30 in September), some is analytics-driven caution, and some is, let’s be honest, just NFL teams being stubborn when the checkbook’s open.
The tension’s real. He even requested a trade not long ago, skipped mandatory practices, then eventually showed up to camp… on the PUP list. It’s a stand-off in cleats. The kind of situation where you can’t tell if both sides are playing chess or just glaring over the table.
And if you think this is just about numbers, it’s not. This is about respect, leverage, and timing. McLaurin’s been the one constant in an offense that’s had more quarterbacks than a Netflix series has plot twists.
He’s been dependable, explosive, and frankly, better than the situations around him. If that doesn’t warrant a “here’s the bag” moment, what does?
