How Have the Commanders Been Adjusting Amid a Key Absence?
The Washington Commanders are heading into their fourth straight game without Terry McLaurin, and the absence of their most consistent playmaker is starting to feel heavier each week. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed Friday that McLaurin will remain sidelined with the quad injury he suffered in Week Three, a setback that has tested Washington’s depth at receiver. Quinn said McLaurin is “working at it hard” but still not ready to go, and the team isn’t interested in pushing him back before he’s fully healthy. For an offense that has leaned on his route running and reliability for years, there’s no easy way to replace him.
Through that stretch, Washington’s offense has managed to stay afloat in spurts, though Monday night’s result underscored lingering challenges. The Commanders fell 25-24 to the Bears in a tightly contested game decided by a last-second field goal. Jayden Daniels completed 19 of 26 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns, adding 52 rushing yards, but the offense’s miscues late in the game proved costly. The team moved the ball well enough early, but lacked the downfield push that McLaurin typically provides when opponents tighten coverage.
The offense’s struggles without McLaurin aren’t surprising given how central he’s been to Washington’s passing attack since 2019. He’s rarely missed time in his career, which makes this stretch one of the longest absences of his tenure. McLaurin has led the Commanders in receiving yards in every season since his rookie year, often drawing top corners and freeing up space for others. His consistency and route discipline have been key to stabilizing the offense through multiple coaching changes and quarterbacks. Without that presence, the Commanders’ passing game has had to find new ways to move the ball, relying more on quick reads and designed runs for Jayden Daniels.
The Commanders have tried to plug the hole with a committee approach. Jahan Dotson has seen an uptick in targets, and Deebo Samuel’s versatility has become even more important as he battles through his own heel issue. Washington also added former first-round pick Treylon Burks to the practice squad this week, a move that hints at the team’s concern about receiver depth if McLaurin’s recovery lingers. Quinn praised Burks’ size and physicality while noting the focus remains on getting the current group to gel. The team’s chemistry on offense has grown, yet sustaining that progress against elite defenses remains the challenge.
Even with the offensive adjustments, it’s hard to ignore how much McLaurin’s presence means to this group. His chemistry with Daniels was just beginning to click before the injury, and his leadership in the locker room carries weight beyond production. The Commanders have fought to stay competitive through this stretch, showing flashes of the explosive offense they want to become. As they turn the page from Monday night and look ahead to Dallas, the team will once again try to find answers without the player who’s been its heartbeat for the past five seasons.
