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Even after a month away, Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin showed why he is one of the best players in the NFL in Week 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. McLaurin also showed why he’s been one of the least available stars in the NFL this year, watching the end of a 28-7 loss from the sideline while nursing a quad injury — the same injury that cost him the last 4 games. “Commanders WR Terry McLaurin (quad) is questionable to return, the same injury that cost him the last few games,” NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport wrote on his official X account. Before he went out, McLaurin provided the 2 biggest plays of the game for the Commanders — an improbable, 11-yard touchdown catch to tie the score at 7-7 in the first half, then a brilliant sideline catch for a first down. McLaurin finished with 3 receptions for 56 yards and the touchdown was his first of the season following a year in which he set the franchise single season record with 13 touchdown receptions. “Marcus Mariota’s 11-yard TD pass to Terry McLaurin hung in the air for 2.4 seconds, with McLaurin securing the catch just 0.3 yards from the sideline when the ball arrived,” Next Gen Stats wrote on his official X account. “Completion Probability: 29.0%” “There isn’t a better receiver in football than Terry McLaurin when he’s within 3 millimeters of the sideline,” ESPN’s Ben Solak wrote on his official X account. “Terry McLaurin is in the matrix tonight,” Barstool Sports podcaster Dan “Big Cat” Katz wrote on his official X account. “Unreal body control.” McLaurin told NBC 4 Sports following the loss to the Chiefs his quad was “day to day” and “felt a little sore” after having 3 receptions for 56 yards. Waiting Begins for McLaurin’s Status Updates The Commanders dropped to 3-5 after the loss — their straight defeat — matching their total losses from all of last year’s regular season, when they advanced to the NFC Championship Game. It’s not a stretch to say the season hangs in the balance over the next 3 weeks before the bye in Week 12. There are consecutive home games against a pair of NFC contenders in the Seattle Seahawks in Week 9 and Detroit Lions in Week 10 followed by a trip to Madrid, Spain, to face the Miami Dolphins in Week 11. The biggest waiting game the next few weeks for the Commanders and their fans will be centered around injury updates for McLaurin and quarterback Jayden Daniels, who missed the game against the Chiefs and has missed 3 games this season due to injuries. Commanders Staring Down Brutal Stretch It seems almost a certainty that, without either McLaurin or Daniels, the best chance the Commanders have over the next 3 games is to go 1-2 and try and salvage the stretch with a win over the Dolphins.
