8 months ago
11
John KeimJul 27, 2025, 07:29 AM ET
- John Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN successful 2013 aft a stint with the Washington Post. He started covering the squad successful 1994 for the Journal Newspapers and aboriginal for the Washington Examiner. He has authored/co-authored 4 books. You tin besides perceive to him connected 'The John Keim Report', which airs connected ESPN Richmond radio.
ASHBURN, Va. -- After holding retired the archetypal 4 days, Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin arrived astatine grooming campy Sunday without a caller woody and was placed connected the physically incapable to execute database with an ankle injury.
Coach Dan Quinn said McLaurin volition enactment disconnected to the broadside with trainers, and it's uncertain if the seasoned volition enactment successful signifier erstwhile his ankle has recovered. He is seeking a declaration hold with 1 twelvemonth near connected his existent deal.
The Commanders opened grooming campy connected July 23. Sunday besides happened to beryllium the archetypal time fans could be practices.
McLaurin said earlier this period that helium would not measurement connected tract without "progression" toward a caller contract. His reporting does not needfully mean determination has been advancement considering he's not expected to participate.
"It's the quality of our business," Washington wide manager Adam Peters said connected the archetypal time of camp. "You'd similar to get these things done quicker, but it doesn't ever hap that way. ... You're dealing with a truly bully subordinate and truly bully person, and you ne'er suffer show of that and marque definite each speech you person is precise straightforward and successful bully religion and keeping that mindset passim ... knowing our extremity is to get a woody done.
"Whatever happens on the mode conscionable recognize he's a large subordinate and we privation to support him here."
McLaurin has not publically stated what benignant of declaration helium is looking for, but helium said past week that "with however the marketplace is today, it conveys what guys of my caliber are deserving of."
Several notable wide receivers signed semipermanent deals this offseason, including the Bengals' Tee Higgins (four years, $115 cardinal with $40.9 cardinal guaranteed), the Steelers' DK Metcalf (four years, $132 cardinal with $60 cardinal guaranteed) and the Jets' Garrett Wilson (four years, $130 million, $90 cardinal guaranteed).
McLaurin turns 30 successful September, an property astatine which teams often judge a receiver starts to fade. He pointed retired past week that helium has been successful the NFL for lone 7 seasons, did not play overmuch his archetypal 2 seasons astatine Ohio State and didn't privation to beryllium judged by what others did successful the past.
He wanted them to presumption it connected a "case by case" basis, McLaurin said.
Two older high-end receivers signed extensions past year: At property 30, Miami's Tyreek Hill signed a three-year hold for $30 cardinal per twelvemonth with $52.535 cardinal guaranteed. At 31, Tampa Bay's Mike Evans signed for 2 years and $41 cardinal with $35 cardinal guaranteed.
McLaurin has been Washington's apical receiver since entering the NFL arsenic a third-round prime successful 2019. He has surpassed 1,000 yards each of the past 5 seasons and caught 13 touchdown passes successful 2024 -- 2nd astir successful the NFL.
He is besides considered a squad person -- voted by teammates arsenic a skipper during the postseason past twelvemonth (they rotated captains during the regular season) -- and a instrumentality favorite.
"Without a doubt, everybody successful this gathering values Terry precise much," Peters said.
