Terry

McLaurin

Were it not for a 28-yard reception on the Commanders’ first possession, McLaurin’s day would have been even more forgettable. Playing with his QB1 for the first time since Week 2, McLaurin and the Commanders failed to find the end zone in the 31-0 defeat. His offensive struggles were only made worse after Jayden Daniels (elbow) exited on the opening drive of the third quarter, but the Commanders looked out of sync for most of the day regardless of who was under center. McLaurin will hope to get right in Week 15’s game against the Giants, where he’ll be on the WR3 radar.

McLaurin was largely confined to key downs in the first half in his first full game since Week 2, but had his number called at greater frequency after the break as the Commanders went into desperation mode in an attempt to end their six-game skid. He would score from 30 yards out in overtime only to see it called by for offensive holding, but made good on the touchdown later on the drive on fourth down from three yards out. McLaurin reminded fantasy managers of his weekly upside ahead of a potential Jayden Daniels return in Week 14.

McLaurin has practiced all week and isn’t on Washington’s final injury report for Week 13. He last appeared in Week 8’s loss to the Chiefs. It’s already a lost season for the Commanders and McLaurin, who has caught just 13 passes for 203 yards and one touchdown in the four games he’s appeared in this season. He’ll profile as a WR3 against a stout Broncos defense with Marcus Mariota under center.

It’s his first such showing since aggravating a quad injury in Week 8. McLaurin has missed the bulk of the previous eight games with the injury but appears to be on the precipice of a return for the Commanders.

No surprises here as head coach Dan Quinn said earlier today he expects McLaurin to practice this week. McLaurin has already attempted to return from the quad issue once. It did not go as planned and he reaggravated the issue during his first game back. We expect the Commanders to be extremely cautious this time around, which means it could be another week until McLaurin is back on the field.

McLaurin hasn’t played since late October after re-injuring his quad in a loss to the Chiefs. A full week of practice should mean McLaurin returns for Washington’s Week 13 game against the Broncos, the league’s best pass defense. He has 13 receptions for 203 yards and a touchdown over four games this season and could have some fantasy value in the regular season’s final weeks if Jayden Daniels is able to return from his elbow injury.

It’s a light walkthrough practice, the sort we’d normally ignore at this point in the season. But it marks a step on McLaurin’s return from a quad injury that has derailed his season and possibly points at him getting back this week. If McLaurin is able to suit up against the Broncos this week, he’d probably start out as a FLEX option given the long layoff, a good Broncos defense, and the Commanders likely going with Marcus Mariota at quarterback.

He’ll at least head over to Spain with the team, which we guess is great news for the vibes. McLaurin will need to have a huge Week 13-17 stretch after Washington’s Week 12 bye to justify his ADP at this point. Seems like holding out for a contract extension was a pretty smart move by him, considering his 13/203/1 line probably wouldn’t have moved many general managers this offseason.

Facing the Lions without McLaurin and Daniels gives the Commanders long odds of pulling off the upset. Fortunately, they have a capable backup quarterback in Marcus Mariota, and lead rusher, RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt (tooth) was medically cleared on Friday. The defense will have CB Trey Amos on hand. The rookie cornerback injured his hip last week against the Seahawks. He practiced fully on Friday.

“Knowing it’s game-game-bye, that has an affect. But I don’t have a timetable today,” Quinn added. Fantasy managers should be prepared based on this update to be without McLaurin until Week 13. It’s rather inconvenient for fantasy purposes that the Commanders won’t just put him on injured reserve. The star receiver has been dealing with the quad injury since leaving Week 3’s win over the Raiders.