The Washington Commanders have now lost two receivers for the remainder of 2026.
Veteran Terry McLaurin went down Monday night against the 49ers and was carted off the field. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed McLaurin suffered a torn patellar tendon, will need surgery, and will miss the rest of 2026. A couple of weeks ago, receiver/returner Jaylin Lane broke and dislocated an ankle and is also lost for the season.
What do these two season-ending injuries mean for the Commanders and their receiver positional group? Their leading receiver is Stefon Diggs with 24 receptions, though he missed the home game against the New York Giants. Diggs has been a go-to receiver in the red zone, catching a team-leading four touchdown receptions.
Washington’s second
leading receiver is Clemson’s Antonio Williams. So far, Williams has 18 receptions for 205 receiving yards, averaging 11.4 yards per reception. Williams has shown an ability to get open. In fact, Williams was wide open on that fourth-and-2 against the 49ers on Monday, when Daniels apparently didn't see him, gave up on the play, and simply threw away the pass to avoid possibly throwing an interception.
The Commanders need more from Dyami Brown and Treylon Burks. Both have nine receptions through Washington’s six games. Burks averages 16.4 yards per reception, and Brown averages 10.4 yards per reception. Burks has recorded two touchdown receptions, and Brown has yet to record one. That is actually unfair to Brown, as he controlled a pass against the Cowboys and got one knee down in bounds in the end zone. The replay official said he was confident it would be ruled a touchdown, but, mysteriously and frustratingly, the officials' incomplete call was upheld.
Look for the Commanders to move McLaurin to injured reserve, then move veteran Van Jefferson to the active roster. Luke McCaffrey will also see more snaps. McCaffrey was open for a 20-yard gain Monday night, but Daniels’ pass was uncharacteristically off-target and uncatchable.
McLaurin was drafted in 2019 by Washington in the third round, and instantly became a starter and Washington’s most reliable receiver. He caught 15 passes for 230 receiving yards (15.3 YPR), one touchdown, and 12 receiving first downs.
This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders have now lost two wide receivers for remainder of 2026 season
