The Washington Commanders survived a week without their starting quarterback, Jayden Daniels, who was out in Week 3 with a knee sprain. Despite dominating the Las Vegas Raiders, there could be a concern as Washington announced wide receiver Terry McLaurin had a quad injury.
Here’s everything we know about the Commanders’ star wide receiver’s injury and his status for the rest of the game following his massive contract extension this past offseason.
What Happened to Washington Commanders WR Terry McLaurin?
With Marcus Mariota starting under center, there was no telling what the Commanders’ offense would look like in Week 3 against the Raiders. The ground game established some dominance early, while Mariota built up some chemistry with his receivers and started to cash in during the second half.
While McLaurin was relatively quiet in the first half, he was able to take a deep shot from Mariota down to the 1-yard line, amidst some controversy as he stretched for the touchdown and probably should’ve been awarded the score. However, running back Jacory Croskey-Merritt punched it in on the next play.
WR Terry McLaurin (quad) is questionable to return pic.twitter.com/TIfpuZOKG4
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 21, 2025
However, it seems the star wide receiver might have tweaked something during the play. On Washington’s next drive, he did not enter the game with the offense, standing on the sideline without his helmet. The Commanders announced shortly after that he was questionable to return with a quad injury.
McLaurin had another slow first half, bringing in two of three targets for a measly 18 yards. However, the 56-yard catch and run boosted his totals and is more of what fans have come to expect from the 2024 second-team All-Pro receiver.
Depending on the severity of the injury, fans could be concerned because Washington and McLaurin just agreed to a brand new three-year extension worth up to $96 million. Also, while Mariota and the offense have survived, having both Daniels and McLaurin out for a game is the worst case for Washington. Fans will wait with bated breath to see if their offensive stars will play.
Second-year WR Luke McCaffery filled in valiantly for McLaurin, scoring a 43-yard touchdown to seal the game just before the two-minute warning. Despite all the injuries, the Commanders are doing their best. Daniels will hopefully return for Week 4, as all eyes will be on McLaurin’s status throughout the week as Washington determines the severity of his quad injury.
