Dan Quinn isn’t backing away from the decision to hold Terry McLaurin out in Week 4, even with some Commanders fans lighting up social media over it.
McLaurin sat out against the Indianapolis Colts because of a hamstring issue, and while he wanted to play, Quinn chose the cautious route. On Monday, the Washington head coach made it clear he stands by the call.
“You know, it was a difficult call, but one that was the right call on Sunday. But I'll give you a better update once we go through him working off to the side with the trainers. Today was more on the strength side of things, so we'll give you a better update as we get to it.”
Quinn said McLaurin’s experience matters, but the final decision wasn’t his alone to make. There’s still no real clarity on whether the wideout will be available against the New York Giants later this week, and Quinn said that update will come after McLaurin works with trainers.
The backlash came fast online, with some fans arguing McLaurin should have been allowed to suit up if he felt ready. McLaurin pushed to play, and plenty of the frustration seemed tied to the Commanders’ rough start. Washington is 1-3 and 3-13 over its last 16 regular-season games.
But the team’s reasoning was straightforward: hamstrings are dangerous, and the risk of making the injury worse is real. McLaurin is one of the franchise cornerstones, and with Washington already dealing with injury problems, Quinn and the Commanders weren’t willing to gamble.
The receiver is known as a fierce competitor and, as the source material notes, he missed a lot of time last year, which made the situation even more delicate. Landing on the injury report late was enough to raise concern and keep him out.
McLaurin wanted in, and the Commanders chose to protect the long view.
That cautious approach may have frustrated some fans, but the idea was simple: one missed game is better than losing him for longer. Quinn wasn’t calling it a scared move. He was calling it the safe one.
There’s also still more to come this week. McLaurin will be pushing to prove he’s ready, especially with star quarterback Jayden Daniels set to return from a dislocated elbow after missing two games. Quinn, though, isn’t giving anything away yet.
For now, it’s a waiting game. The Commanders are hoping McLaurin clears the necessary markers soon, because the sooner he’s back, the better.
In Other News...
Giants Just Got A Tougher NFC East Problem To Prepare For
A rough afternoon in London left Washington with more than just a loss to the Colts. Starting quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow in Week 5, and the injury immediately changed the conversation around the Commanders offense after Marcus Mariota had already gone down and third-stringer Athan Kaliakmanis was forced into action.
Dan Quinn said Daniels is on track to potentially return as soon as next week against the Giants, a development that would give Washington a much different look than it had overseas. For New York, it means preparing for a division opponent that may not be scrambling at quarterback for long, even if the recovery timeline still has to play out. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Have A Week 5 Injury Problem Fans Can't Ignore
The injury picture around Washington has shifted quickly enough to become a real Week 5 storyline, and it reaches across both sides of the ball. The Commanders are trying to manage hamstring strains for Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin, while Charles Omenihu is working through groin and ankle issues and Marcus Mariota is dealing with a sprained MCL. Jayden Daniels is still expected to start despite his own dislocated elbow, which gives the quarterback room at least some clarity even as the rest of the roster gets more complicated.
Nick Cross adds another layer after his illness and hospitalization, and the list of limited or sidelined players keeps the pressure on Washingtons depth. For a team already balancing injuries at receiver, along the defensive front and behind center, the concern is less about any one name than the cumulative effect on how the Commanders can actually function this week. The next update on availability may say plenty about how much margin this group still has left. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Suddenly Face A QB Decision They Can't Ignore
Washingtons quarterback room got another look this week after the team brought in Jack Plummer for a workout following Marcus Mariotas injury. For now, though, the Commanders are not planning to add him, a sign they believe Mariotas absence will be short enough to avoid an injured reserve move. With Jayden Daniels also expected back soon from an elbow injury, the position remains in a holding pattern while the staff waits to see how the health of the room settles.
Dan Quinn has stayed upbeat through a stretch that has featured multiple injuries around the roster, and this latest quarterback wrinkle fits the same uneasy theme. The Commanders do not appear ready to make a roster move at the position yet, but they are clearly keeping options open as they navigate a week-to-week situation that could shift quickly depending on Mariota and Daniels. [Read more 🡒]