Last week, after missing the previous two games, quarterback Jayden Daniels made his awaited return for the Washington Commanders from a sprained left knee in an early big-time win against Justin Herbert and the Los Angeles Chargers.
The offense, led by Daniels, went for 389 total yards in a game in which it seemed as if the team didn’t miss a beat in the absence of their star dual-threat passer.
Even though the Commanders have continued to move the ball well, averaging 361 yards per game in this early portion of the season, the ideal scenario is to have the team as healthy as possible, and ironically, the majority of the injuries are on the offense.
One of the most significant holes to fill for the Commanders is not having All-Pro receiver Terry McLaurin, who signed a multiyear extension that will keep him with the team for the long haul. McLaurin has been dealing with a lingering quad injury that has sidelined him for the last two games.
After the injury report released on Friday, it looks like McLaurin, along with other critical offensive weapons, could be banged up or miss the anticipated rematch against the Chicago Bears, which ended in a nail-biting victory for Washington that ended on a deflected Hail Mary touchdown reception.
John Keim, ESPN Commanders reporter, tweeted early Friday afternoon, breaking down the recent injury report heading into the weekend. The report featured the injuries of the players and their participation in practice, including current lead receiver and new acquisition Deebo Samuel and wide receiver Noah Brown, who had the winning reception last season against the Bears.
The biggest thing to note is McLaurin’s lack of participation. He did not practice on Thursday and wouldn’t have on Friday if it wasn’t used for recovery and treatment, meaning it is very likely the star receiver will miss another week of action.
Samuel also did not practice on Thursday, which could put his status for Monday night in jeopardy. Brown also looks questionable, as he was listed as a limited participant. Even if the guys are willing to give it a go, long-term health is going to be a constant worry as the season goes along.
