There wasn’t a lot left for the Washington Commanders beyond pride when they took on the Dallas Cowboys in a special Christmas Day broadcast. With the season, as far as a playoff berth is concerned, all but over, their focus has to be on their positioning in the 2026 NFL Draft.
But facing a divisional rival is never a game that a team is willing to go down without a fight. Unfortunately, the first half did not go exactly how the Commanders may have anticipated. With Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota both ruled out for the game, their offense struggled mightily, with the effects clear on established veterans like Terry McLaurin as well.
What Happened to Terry McLaurin?
A one-sided domination from the Cowboys saw them go up 24-10 in a hurry. Their potent offense was no match for Washington, which struggled to string together consistent drives with Josh Johnson at quarterback.
McLaurin was among the players who struggled the most, as he could manage just two receptions in his four targets, pushing the ball for just 22 receiving yards. Instead, it was an excellent run after the catch from Deebo Samuel and a touchdown from Jacory Croskey-Merritt that did most of the heavy lifting for the Commanders.
McLaurin, who entered the season following a lengthy contract negotiation with the organization, has not lived up to the terms of his new contract in his first year. With injuries hampering him throughout the year, he has suited up in just eight games this year.
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That has also affected him in the PFSN’s WR Impact rankings, where he dropped out of the top 20 after finishing last season at 14. His numbers, too, thanks to the injuries, have taken a serious nosedive.
The raw numbers are just downright bad, with just 462 yards totaled throughout the year. As a result, he’s set to miss the 1,000-yard mark for the first time since his rookie season and finish with his lowest production in his entire career.
After becoming an end zone magnet, with 13 receiving touchdowns to his credit last year, he hasn’t been nearly as effective this season, with just three touchdowns to his tally. Some of that might be on the star wide receiver, but he has been without his superstar quarterback for large stretches of the year.
With both Daniels and McLaurin, the two most significant components to their historic turnaround last season, missing a significant chunk of the season, it’s no surprise that the Commanders have gone from an NFC Championship Game appearance to winning just four games.
Editor’s Note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated throughout the day as more information becomes available.
