Terry McLaurin is back in familiar territory ahead of another Commanders season, and this time he brought a new face with him.
McLaurin filmed a commercial for Easterns Automotive Group on Thursday, continuing a partnership that has become part of the annual lead-in to Washington’s season. This is his seventh year doing work with Easterns, and the company has long used Commanders players in its ads before training camp gets underway.
The new teammate in the spot was rookie linebacker Sonny Styles, who joined McLaurin for the shoot. Styles, making his first appearance in a DMV commercial, danced alongside McLaurin while the familiar Eastern Motors jingle played in the background.
Easterns has multiple locations across the DMV, with most of them in Maryland, and the commercials have featured a long list of Washington names over the years, including Clinton Portis, Sean Taylor, Santana Moss, Chris Cooley, Kirk Cousins, LaVar Arrington and McLaurin. NHL legend Alexander Ovechkin has also been part of the Eastern family.
For McLaurin, the annual shoot is a sign that football is right around the corner. Easterns films the commercials before the Commanders open training camp each year, and Washington is set to open camp next week. Styles reported to Ashburn with the other rookies on Friday, while McLaurin and the rest of the team are due Tuesday.
Styles now turns from the commercial set to the field, where the former Buckeye will be asked to help the Commanders bounce back from a disappointing 5-12 season.
In Other News...
Commanders Lose Trusted Veteran At Worst Possible Time For Camp
A familiar piece of Washingtons special teams picture disappeared just as camp was about to get rolling, with linebacker Nick Bellore retiring after 15 NFL seasons. The Commanders moved him to the reserve/retired list as they made room for cornerback Rasul Douglas, a transaction that underscores how quickly the roster can change at this point in the summer.
Bellore had spent the last two seasons in Washington and carved out a trusted role as one of the teams most reliable special teams players, handling a heavy workload in that phase of the game. His departure leaves the Commanders with a notable hole to address moving forward, and it comes at a time when every practice rep matters even more than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Commanders Have A Quiet QB Decision That Could Backfire Behind Jayden Daniels
Jayden Daniels is locked in as Washingtons starter, with Marcus Mariota set as the backup, so the only real quarterback question left in camp is the one at the bottom of the depth chart. Even so, it is a spot worth watching for a team trying to build a stable room around its young franchise passer, because the third quarterback can still matter when injuries, practice reps and weekly preparation start to pile up.
The decision comes down to who can settle into David Bloughs new offensive scheme and keep the ball out of harms way. Washington wants a developmental option it can trust, whether that means carrying him on the roster or trying to sneak him onto the practice squad, and the margin here is thin enough that a few clean practices or one rough stretch could swing the outcome. [Read more 🡒]
Former Commanders Receiver Finds New Home As WR Churn Continues
Chris Moore is back on the move as NFL training camps open, a familiar turn for a veteran receiver who has spent the past several seasons bouncing through the league. After stops with the Texans, Titans, Cardinals and Washington, Moore is now looking for his next opportunity after a brief run with the Commanders, where he was used in a supporting role and gave the offense some depth when injuries and roster turnover were in play.
For Washington, his departure fits the broader churn at receiver this offseason, with the room getting reshaped by additions such as Dyami Brown, Van Jefferson, Treylon Burks and Antonio Williams. Moore was not brought back after his contract expired, and his path back to Baltimore only underscores how quickly the margins can shift for a player trying to hold onto a spot in a crowded position group. [Read more 🡒]
