Terry McLaurin Out for Season With Torn Patellar Tendon

That's the news every Commanders fan was afraid of since the cart came out Monday night: Terry McLaurin is done for the year.

McLaurin tore the patellar tendon in his left knee and will miss the rest of the season, coach Dan Quinn said Tuesday, per ESPN and the team. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the MRI result Tuesday afternoon. McLaurin got hurt cutting on a route late in the first quarter of Washington's 23-17 loss at San Francisco, on a play that ended with a sack of Jayden Daniels.

Terry McLaurin's season ends

"He's a captain and one of our real leaders," Quinn said, per Commanders.com. "And so, we're all here to support him. That was certainly tough news."

"Man, he brings a lot on and off the field," Quinn added, per ESPN. "It's a big hit, and we'll lean on a number of guys."

McLaurin, 31, leads Washington with 15 catches for 230 yards and a touchdown this season, even after missing Week 4 with a hamstring injury. He had one catch for 27 yards Monday before going down. He put up five straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2020 to 2024 and ranks fifth on the franchise's all-time receiving list, per the team. He also played with 13 different starting quarterbacks before Daniels arrived in 2024, per ESPN.

Who catches the ball now

Washington will lean on Stefon Diggs, who has started opposite McLaurin, plus Treylon Burks, Dyami Brown and rookie Antonio Williams. Tight end Chig Okonkwo led the team with 69 receiving yards Monday, and Quinn also mentioned practice squad receivers Van Jefferson and Jaden Bradley as call-up options.

"Jaden as well; you feel some of the deep plays with Jaden, and that's some of the unique things that Terry has as well," Quinn said.

For fantasy, Diggs is the first name to look at, and Okonkwo just became a lot more interesting in tight end leagues.

The contract question

The injury also clouds McLaurin's future in Washington. ESPN's John Keim notes the extension McLaurin signed in 2025 lets the team release him or restructure after this season. Otherwise he counts $34 million against the cap next year and $39.5 million in 2028. Releasing him would save about $8.5 million next year, per ESPN.

That is a tough conversation for a team whose fans watched McLaurin carry the offense through five losing seasons in his first seven years.

What's next for Washington

At 1-4-1, the Commanders are on their Week 7 bye, then host the Eagles on Sunday Night Football on Nov. 1. Daniels will go into that one without his top target, so watch how much of the load lands on Diggs and Okonkwo.