The Washington Commanders continue dealing with uncertainty in their receiving group as they prepare for this week’s matchup with the Dallas Cowboys. Terry McLaurin remains sidelined with the quad injury that has kept him out of the past three contests. For fantasy football managers hoping for the veteran receiver’s return, what is his current status heading into Week 7?
Terry McLaurin Injury Update
McLaurin originally sustained his quad injury with 4:47 remaining in the third quarter during Washington’s Week 3 victory over Las Vegas. The injury occurred when he dove toward the end zone on what appeared to be a 57-yard touchdown before officials overturned the score upon review.
What began as a seemingly routine quadriceps strain has evolved into a more complex situation after McLaurin consulted multiple medical specialists, including core muscle expert Dr. William Meyers. The involvement of such a specialized physician suggested the problem might be more serious than originally assessed.
The veteran receiver has now missed three consecutive games. This marks the longest absence of his NFL career, having missed only three total games from 2019 through 2024.
Wednesday brought initial encouragement when head coach Dan Quinn announced that McLaurin would practice this week, marking his first team participation since the injury occurred nearly a month ago. McLaurin was listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s walkthrough session.
However, Thursday brought disappointing news when the Commanders held a real practice and McLaurin did not participate. Beat writer Ben Standig reported that McLaurin was not spotted at practice during the open portion of the session, representing a concerning step backward from his limited Wednesday involvement.
Despite Quinn’s optimistic comments week after week about McLaurin’s progress, the veteran receiver does not appear any closer to returning. At this point, it’s safe to say McLaurin will not play against the Cowboys this week. Fantasy managers should not expect him to return in Week 8 either.
McLaurin Fantasy Outlook
The quad injury has proven far more troublesome than initially anticipated for fantasy managers who have been without their reliable WR1 for over a month. McLaurin hadn’t missed a game in four consecutive seasons prior to Week 4, making his extended absence particularly concerning.
Through three games before the injury, McLaurin had managed 10 catches for 149 yards but had not yet recorded an end zone target while carrying the lowest on-field target share of his career through the first month. However, those numbers reflected the early-season growing pains with rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels rather than any decline in McLaurin’s abilities.
Based on Quinn’s cautious tone regarding McLaurin’s practice participation and Sunday availability, the most likely scenario appears to be that he misses one more game before returning in Week 8. The fact that he’s finally practicing represents significant progress, but the lack of optimism in the coaching staff’s comments suggests they won’t rush him back prematurely.
Jayden Daniels has managed effectively during McLaurin’s absence, utilizing Deebo Samuel Sr. as the primary receiving threat despite his own heel injury concerns. Chris Moore, Jaylin Lane, and Luke McCaffrey have provided depth contributions, but Washington’s passing attack clearly needs McLaurin back to maximize its effectiveness.
Once McLaurin does return to action, he should resume his role as the secondary option in the target hierarchy behind Samuel. Washington’s upcoming schedule includes favorable matchups that could provide excellent opportunities for his return to fantasy relevance, making him worth holding through this extended absence.
Fantasy managers should maintain cautious optimism while preparing contingency plans for another week without McLaurin’s services, as his practice participation this week will provide the clearest indication of his actual availability moving forward.