Commanders All-Pro WR Terry McLaurin Spotted Back at Practice

We got to see what life is like for the Washington Commanders without quarterback Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin a Week 4 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

That’s the same Falcons team that was shut out by the lowly Carolina Panthers just one week earlier The loss dropped the Commanders to 2-2.

With Daniels back for Week 5 on the road against the Los Angeles Rams after missing the last 2 games with a sprained knee, there might be even more good news on the horizon.

The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala posted a picture of McLaurin warming up at practice for the Commanders on Thursday, October 2, that gave some hope he might be back sooner than expected after missing the game against the Falcons with a quad injury.

McLaurin was injured in a Week 3 win over the Las Vegas Raiders in which he finally seemed to shake off the rust of missing almost the entire offseason and training camp because of a lengthy contract dispute.

Commanders head coach Dan Quinn said McLaurin was “trending up” on Wednesday.

“(McLaurin) reportedly visited multiple specialists, including a foremost expert on core muscle injuries,” Commanders Wire’s Bryan Manning wrote on October 1. “Surgery wasn’t needed for McLaurin at that time and Quinn called him ‘week to week.’ ”

McLaurin Off to Slow Start After $97M Payday

McLaurin set the franchise record with 13 receiving touchdowns in 2024 and earned NFL All-Pro honors for the first time. After signing a 3-year, $97 million contract extension on August 25, he had just 10 receptions for 149 yards and no touchdowns through the first 3 games of the regular season.

“Washington WR Terry McLaurin is uncertain to play Sunday vs. Atlanta due to his quad injury, per source,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on his official X account on September 23. “He still is seeking more information about the injury.”

With Marcus Mariota starting in place of Daniels, McLaurin had his best game of the season against the Raiders with 3 receptions for 74 yards and one touchdown … that wasn’t really a touchdown.

ESPN’s John Keim thinks reading too much into McLaurin’s struggles might be a mistake.

“The slow start was somewhat expected given that he missed all of training camp (in addition to OTA and minicamp practices) while holding out/in,” Keim wrote on September 17. “He’s receiving a similar number of targets as he did last year (6.88 in 2024; 6.5 in 2025) and he was getting open vs. Green Bay — but the Packers’ pass rush often negated chances. McLaurin is still getting open — when he runs a route after lining up wide left (his usual spot), he’s averaging 2.53 yards of separation compared with 2.63 last year. It’s a matter of time for McLaurin.”

Commanders WR Room Not in Great Shape

The Commanders were without 2 of their top 3 wide receivers against the Falcons as the team’s WR3. Veteran Noah Brown has missed the last 2 games with a groin injury.

Another NFL All-Pro, Deebo Samuel, is the team’s leading wide receiver (22 receptions, 204 yards, 2 touchdowns) is listed as questionable with a heel injury but all signs point to him being able to play against the Rams.

Colts’ Michael Pittman Jr lands on injury report ahead of Week 5

The Indianapolis Colts listed wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. as a limited participant in Thursday’s practice with a hamstring injury as the team released its Week 5 injury report.

The update comes as the Colts prepare to host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, Oct. 5, at 1 p.m. ET on FOX. Pittman, who has been a central piece of Indianapolis’ offense, appeared on the report after logging partial work during the week.

Through four games, Pittman has recorded 21 receptions for 234 yards and three touchdowns. He has averaged 11.1 yards per catch while helping lead the Colts to a 3-1 record. His production has provided quarterback Daniel Jones with a reliable target in the passing game, particularly in red-zone situations.

Colts monitor Michael Pittman Jr.’s hamstring as Raiders matchup looms in Week 5

© Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Pittman contributed in the team’s Week 4 matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, finishing with five receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown. Despite his efforts, the Colts dropped the game 27-20, snapping their early-season momentum.

The Week 5 meeting against the Raiders presents an opportunity for Indianapolis to regroup. Las Vegas enters the contest with a 1-3 record and a three-game losing streak. The Raiders suffered a 25-24 loss to the Chicago Bears in Week 4 after having a potential game-winning field goal attempt blocked.

Indianapolis will monitor Pittman’s status closely as game day approaches. A hamstring issue could impact his availability and workload, with the Colts aiming to keep one of their top offensive playmakers on the field.

Pittman’s presence remains significant for an Indianapolis team seeking to avoid back-to-back defeats and maintain atop the AFC South standings.

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