Terry McLaurin Feared Out for Season With Knee Injury

That's the one Commanders fans were dreading the moment Terry McLaurin went down and stayed down on Monday night.

McLaurin was carted off with an air cast on his left knee in the first half of Washington's 23-17 loss to the 49ers in Santa Clara and was quickly ruled out. "The concern now is that it could be significant," coach Dan Quinn said after the game, per the AP. "We'll do the scans (Tuesday) and give you an update. But that's the concern tonight. It's definitely something that there's fear." NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Washington is bracing for a season-ending injury, per Pro Football Talk. As of Tuesday morning there was no official diagnosis.

How Terry McLaurin got hurt

It happened on a third-and-9 snap where Jayden Daniels was sacked. McLaurin was working against 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir near the sideline when his left knee buckled, and NFL.com described it as essentially a non-contact injury. He grabbed the knee right away while teammates knelt nearby, and players from both teams came over before he was driven off.

Washington trailed 13-3 at that point. McLaurin had already made the Commanders' biggest play of the night to that point, a 27-yard catch on the opening field goal drive.

What Washington loses

McLaurin, 31, is a two-time Pro Bowler and a five-time 1,000-yard receiver with 513 catches, 7,191 yards and 42 touchdowns in his career. He has 15 catches for 230 yards and a touchdown this season after missing Week 4 with a hamstring injury, and he missed seven games last year with quad, core muscle and groin issues.

There's a contract layer, too. Pro Football Talk notes McLaurin has two more years left on his deal with a $34 million cap number in 2027 and no guaranteed money remaining.

Daniels kept slinging without him, going 29 of 40 for 300 yards and two second-half touchdowns as Washington rallied from 20 down before the 49ers stopped them on fourth down late. Antonio Williams led the receivers with 45 snaps, followed by Stefon Diggs (41), Treylon Burks (37) and Dyami Brown (33), per UPI. If McLaurin is out long term, Diggs (six catches, 44 yards and a touchdown Monday) is the first name fantasy managers will look at.

Washington also lost defensive lineman Javon Kinlaw to a knee injury late in the first half.

What's next for the Commanders

At 1-4-1, Washington gets its Week 7 bye now, then hosts the Eagles on Sunday Night Football on Nov. 1. The scans come Tuesday, and Commanders fans are just hoping the news is better than the cart made it look.