Following a 57-yard catch on a pass from Marcus Mariota on Sunday versus the Raiders, Terry McLaurin was declared questionable to return with an injury and remained sidelined for the remainder of the game. However, he stayed in uniform and even jogged out onto the field to retrieve Luke McCaffrey’s touchdown ball. Dan Quinn did not give an update on his status in his Monday presser, but on Tuesday, Adam Schefter reported Terry was getting a second opinion and was uncertain for Sunday’s game. He did not practice
Wednesday or Thursday, and on Friday Dan Quinn ruled him out for Sunday’s game, listing him as “week-to-week,” and there is currently no timetable for his return.
While the season-ending injuries to veterans Austin Ekeler and Deatrich Wise were significant, the loss of McLaurin cannot be overstated for a team that is thin on talented, proven wide receivers. Opinions may differ, but Terry is a top-tier-player and at this point in the season he cannot be replaced by an equally talented veteran without trading significant capital and cap space. In lieu of such a move, Adam Peters will most likely look to the talent currently on the roster or find other ways to manage things until McLaurin’s return. While Terry brings many things to the Washington Commanders, the most significant is a persistent and dangerous vertical threat that demands attention downfield.
In this article, we will evaluate potential replacements, some currently on Washington’s roster and some available on a fill-in basis:
Chris Moore
The first place to look for a replacement would be on the current roster. As Washington’s current starting right side WR, Chris Moore gets top billing on the list. Unfortunately, that is because he is already replacing the team’s missing WR3, Noah Brown. Considered a long shot to make the roster before the season, the former Raven has been in the league for almost a full decade, and, as of this week, he has 141 career receptions for 1,769 receiving yards and 11 total TDs. That gives Moore a per-season average of 21 receptions, 266 yards, and 1 TD. While he is doing just fine as a WR3/4, it is hard to expect a significant bump in production at this point in his career, even with additional snaps on offense:
| Receiving | Rushing | Scrimmage | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Age | Team | Lg | Pos | G | GS | Tgt | Rec | Yds | Y/R | TD | 1D | Succ% | Lng | R/G | Y/G | Ctch% | Y/Tgt | Att | Yds | TD | 1D | Succ% | Lng | Y/A | Y/G | A/G | Touch | Y/Tch | YScm | RRTD | Fmb | AV | Awards |
| 2016 | 23 | BAL | NFL | WR | 15 | 0 | 16 | 7 | 46 | 6.6 | 0 | 2 | 31.3 | 13 | 0.5 | 3.1 | 43.8 | 2.9 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 66.7 | 10 | 6.3 | 1.3 | 0.2 | 10 | 6.5 | 65 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 24 | BAL | NFL | WR | 13 | 4 | 38 | 18 | 248 | 13.8 | 3 | 11 | 39.5 | 30 | 1.4 | 19.1 | 47.4 | 6.5 | 2 | -9 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | -4 | -4.5 | -0.7 | 0.2 | 20 | 12.0 | 239 | 3 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 25 | BAL | NFL | WR | 16 | 0 | 25 | 19 | 196 | 10.3 | 1 | 8 | 48.0 | 30 | 1.2 | 12.3 | 76.0 | 7.8 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 60.0 | 9 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 0.3 | 24 | 8.9 | 213 | 1 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 26 | BAL | NFL | WR | 14 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 21 | 7.0 | 0 | 0 | 20.0 | 13 | 0.2 | 1.5 | 60.0 | 4.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 4 | 5.3 | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2020 | 27 | BAL | NFL | WR | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2021 | 28 | HOU | NFL | WR | 12 | 1 | 22 | 21 | 227 | 10.8 | 2 | 6 | 54.5 | 67 | 1.8 | 18.9 | 95.5 | 10.3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 21 | 10.8 | 227 | 2 | 0 | 2 | ||||
| 2022 | 29 | HOU | NFL | WR | 16 | 7 | 74 | 48 | 548 | 11.4 | 2 | 24 | 47.3 | 52 | 3.0 | 34.3 | 64.9 | 7.4 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 51 | 10.8 | 551 | 2 | 0 | 4 | |
| 2023 | 30 | TEN | NFL | WR | 17 | 5 | 35 | 22 | 424 | 19.3 | 0 | 16 | 54.3 | 49 | 1.3 | 24.9 | 62.9 | 12.1 | 2 | 39 | 0 | 1 | 50.0 | 38 | 19.5 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 24 | 19.3 | 463 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |
| 2024 | 31 | 2TM | NFL | WR | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 31 | ARI | NFL | WR | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 2024 | 31 | WAS | NFL | WR | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
| 2025 | 32 | WAS | NFL | WR | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 59 | 19.7 | 0 | 3 | 100.0 | 34 | 1.5 | 29.5 | 100.0 | 19.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 19.7 | 59 | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 10 Yrs | 113 | 18 | 218 | 141 | 1769 | 12.5 | 8 | 70 | 46.8 | 67 | 1.2 | 15.7 | 64.7 | 8.1 | 16 | 69 | 0 | 3 | 37.5 | 38 | 4.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 157 | 11.7 | 1838 | 8 | 2 | 14 | |||||
| 17 Game Avg | 17 | 3 | 33 | 21 | 266 | 12.5 | 1 | 11 | 46.8 | 67 | 1.2 | 15.7 | 64.7 | 8.1 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 37.5 | 38 | 4.3 | 0.6 | 0.1 | 24 | 11.7 | 277 | 1 | 0 | ||||||
| BAL (5 Yrs) | 61 | 5 | 84 | 47 | 511 | 10.9 | 4 | 21 | 39.3 | 30 | 0.8 | 8.4 | 56.0 | 6.1 | 11 | 27 | 0 | 2 | 45.5 | 10 | 2.5 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 58 | 9.3 | 538 | 4 | 1 | 4 | |||||
| HOU (2 Yrs) | 28 | 8 | 96 | 69 | 775 | 11.2 | 4 | 30 | 49.0 | 67 | 2.5 | 27.7 | 71.9 | 8.1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 1.0 | 0.1 | 0.1 | 72 | 10.8 | 778 | 4 | 0 | 6 | |||||
| WAS (2 Yrs) | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 59 | 19.7 | 0 | 3 | 100.0 | 34 | 1.5 | 29.5 | 100.0 | 19.7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 3 | 19.7 | 59 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| TEN (1 Yr) | 17 | 5 | 35 | 22 | 424 | 19.3 | 0 | 16 | 54.3 | 49 | 1.3 | 24.9 | 62.9 | 12.1 | 2 | 39 | 0 | 1 | 50.0 | 38 | 19.5 | 2.3 | 0.1 | 24 | 19.3 | 463 | 0 | 1 | 4 | |||||
| ARI (1 Yr) | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||
Luke McCaffery
Currently fourth on the team in receiving yards, McCaffery gets second billing behind Moore. He saw a significant bump in production in Week 3, mostly due to a 43 yard TD reception resulting from a broken coverage. While he demonstrated good speed after the catch, his production once again has come from the slot, and in his second season we have yet to see much in the way of a vertical threat on the outside. Perhaps it will be different if he is lined up there going forward, but Sunday’s game should be telling.
Jaylin Lane
Lane has split his time at outside wide receiver and in the slot this season, but on paper he makes for an intriguing deep threat for Kliff Kingsbury’s offense. Unfortunately, he hasn’t shown the ability to separate or win in contested catch situations in his rookie season, so he definitely carries the “unproven” label at this point. If he gets loose in the open field, Lane showed what he could do on his 90-yard punt return, so if there is a breakdown in coverage or another opportunity, he should be able to capitalize. Until then it will be difficult to make teams respect Jaylin as a significant threat.
Ja’Corey Brooks/Tay Martin/Jacoby Jones
The next place to look for a potential replacement would be the practice squad. After Chris Moore’s signing last week, Ja’Corey Brooks would seem to be next up for a roster spot. While Brooks has the necessary size, his 4.68 speed and below-average athletic scores make him a poor fit to replace Washington’s best wide receiver. Ja’Corey profiles as a possession receiver, which is a role already filled by Chris Moore and Luke McCaffrey. The other choices on the practice squad, Jacoby Jones and Tay Martin, also profile similarly. Both are possession receivers that work more in the intermediate level than vertically. One of these players will be elevated for Sunday’s game as an immediate fill-in, but it could be on a one and done basis.
Free Agents:
While Dan Quinn expressed confidence in his current WR depth being ready for the moment, a poor performance on Sunday could make him reevaluate. There was also little to no chance to install a new WR into Sunday’s game plan so the choice was already made for him. Things may look different on Monday and exploring upside additions would make sense. According to Sharp Football Analysis, here are the top players currently available at the WR position:
Best Wide Receiver Free Agents, 2025:
- Diontae Johnson
- Odell Beckham
- Robert Woods
- Nelson Agholor
- Tyler Boyd
- Michael Gallup
- D.J. Chark
- Donovan Peoples-Jones
- Marquez Callaway
- Zach Pascal
- K.J. Osborn
- Justyn Ross
- Kadarius Toney
- Brandon Powell
- Deven Thompkins
- Jaelon Darden
- D.J. Turner
- Kyle Philips
- Mike Strachan
- Equanimeous St. Brown
- Collin Johnson
- K.J. Hamler
- Grant Dubose
- Rakim Jarrett
- Kevin Austin
A number of these players may be passed over as a poor culture fit (Diontae Johnson, Odell Beckham) or have already been given a chance at a roster spot during preseason (Osborn, Gallup, Strachan). The one thing to remember is Terry still counts towards the 53-man roster so Peters will have to release another player or add someone to the practice squad to bring another player into the mix. I have highlighted some of the available options below:
Robert Woods
At this point in his career, there is not much flashy about the 33-year-old Robert Woods, and his time in the NFL might be just about done. However, after twelve years and over 8,000 receiving yards in his career, he would be provide a steady presence as an inside-outside wide receiver with reliable route running and plus blocking ability. The downside is Woods is coming off the worst year of his career in 2024, appearing in 15 games for the Houston Texans, catching 20 passes for 203 yards, and Robert was unable to crack a Steelers roster that was desperate for receiving talent after the trade of George Pickens. After failing to make the final roster, Woods signed to the Steelers practice squad before requesting his release, stating he only wanted to play if he could be on a team’s 53-man roster, so if Peters wants him he would need to release another player:
There wouldn’t be much to get excited about with this signing, but the Commanders could do worse for a replacement the next few weeks. A former Super Bowl champion, Woods would be a nice culture fit with Wagner, Ertz, and Von Miller.
D.J. Chark
Having turned 29 years old on Tuesday, Chark is just shy of the dreaded 30-year-old mark for wide receivers. A second-round pick in 2018, D.J has plenty of size and athleticism, and while he most certainly has lost a step due to age and injury, the Louisiana State product had speed to spare based on his testing numbers at the Combine:
Chark was a Pro Bowl selection in 2019 after totaling 73 receptions for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns. Since then, he hasn’t been able to replicate that 1,000-yard season. His closest attempt was in 2020, when he reached 706 yards, but it has been a steady decline since then. Chark only played in seven games last season with the Chargers due a hip injury that otherwise left him on injured reserve. Overall, the receiver has totaled 216 receptions for 3,100 yards and 24 touchdowns in 76 appearances and 51 starts. That’s good for an average of 14.4 yards per catch and 40.8 yards per game. After being released from the Chargers he signed a 1-year deal with the Falcons on July 25th of this year, but was released before final cuts in August having failed to distinguish himself during preseason.
There are two significant problems with signing Chark. He is extremely injury prone, having three stints on injured reserve in the past four seasons, and considered retirement this offseason. The other is a history of drops during his career, with some years just being bad (9.6%, 12.3%) to being downright awful his rookie year (26.8%).
Signing D.J. Chark would be gamble on his health and ability to recapture his form. While it would be a poor bet in March, in the middle of September, with your WR1 on the shelf, Adam Peters might like the odds.
Rakim Jarrett
As a former Terrapin, many Washington fans will be familiar with the last option on the list. A consensus 5-star recruit, Rakim Jarrett profiled as a 5th- or 6th-round pick in the 2023 draft but ended up undrafted. He signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and made their initial 53-man roster before going on injured reserve in November of 2023. He began the 2024 season on injured reserve before being activated on October 26th, 2024. The competition in the Buccaneers wide receiver room this summer was fierce and after a quiet preseason, Jarrett was released as a part of final roster cuts. All told, Jarrett appeared in 20 regular season games for the Buccaneers over a two-year stretch, recording thirteen receptions on 20 targets for 184 yards while logging 325 offensive snaps with six kick returns for 141 return yards. He was signed briefly to the Steelers practice squad, but was released a week later on September 16th.
Physically, Rakim compares very well with McLaurin, with similar height, weight, and speed and only slightly less athleticism than the Commanders No. 1 wide receiver.
The big difference between the two is route-running. While Terry was a polished route runner from the beginning, Rakim played primarily in the slot in college, and his route-running fundamentals are very raw. He needs to be schemed open on slant routes, digs, and quick-game throws. This should be no problem for Kliff Kingsbury, but would seem to make Jarrett redundant next to Deebo Samuel and Jaylin Lane. However, Jarrett was also used on the outside, and while he won’t win a ton of 50-50 balls, his 4.4 speed and ability to get off the line of scrimmage provide the necessary tools to stretch the field vertically. Rakim has also shown the ability to locate, track, and make adjustments to the ball in the air. He was called on to block frequently at Maryland and proved himself willing and competitive in that area, but his slender frame presents challenges at the NFL level.
Jarrett makes a lot of sense as a scheme fit and adds a deep threat dimension the offense is currently missing. While Rakim Jarrett is no Terry McLaurin, there are certainly some Terry McLaurin aspects to his highlights:
If Adam Peters is interested in Jarrett he will need to act fast if he wants to secure the wide receiver’s services. The free agent worked out for the Patriots on Wednesday, but if he remains unsigned Jarrett is a prototypical practice squad replacement that could be elevated on game days.
Terry McLaurin’s current timeline for return is unknown, but following a serious discussion around the possibility of surgery, the team and fans should prepare for more than a one-game absence. Should they stand pat with their current roster or add someone on Monday? If so, who would you sign?
