Terry McLaurin’s season-ending knee injury against the 49ers has opened the door for Washington’s receiving depth chart to shift, but Luke McCaffrey is still waiting for a real offensive opportunity.
McLaurin lasted only seven snaps Monday night before leaving the game. Once he was out, McCaffrey logged eight offensive snaps, which was his first action on offense in six weeks. He also saw his first target on one of Jayden Daniels’ less accurate throws of the night.
That usage stood out because Washington spent a third-round pick on McCaffrey at No. 100 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, yet he has barely been used on offense this season. The team has seen flashes when he has gotten chances, especially in the kicking game, but the offensive workload has been almost nonexistent.
McCaffrey has been inactive in Weeks 1, 2 and 4, including the Colts game that McLaurin also missed. He still has not caught a pass this season, though he has returned eight kickoffs for 203 yards.
The snap counts against San Francisco painted the picture clearly. Antonio Williams played 45 offensive snaps, Stefon Diggs 41, Treylon Burks 37 and Dyami Brown 33. McCaffrey’s total was eight.
That leaves the Commanders with a decision to make. His role has started and ended on special teams so far, but McLaurin’s absence creates more room on offense. If McCaffrey still cannot earn meaningful snaps now, it raises a fair question about when that chance is actually coming.
There is precedent for McCaffrey handling a bigger role when Washington has been short-handed. Last season, he finished 2025 with 11 catches for 203 yards and three touchdowns before a broken collarbone ended his season after nine games. One of those highlights was a 50-yard catch against the Chargers while McLaurin and Noah Brown were out.
At the time, then-offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said: "I think he’s settled in now, and we have full confidence where we put him that he’s going to go make a play."
McCaffrey’s father, Ed McCaffrey, said in a June interview before the season: "As a wide receiver, you can’t control your playing time and you can’t throw yourself the football. As a receiver, you have to be very patient, and you have to be ready for the opportunities that you get. When you get them, you really have to make them count."
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