ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders activated wide receiver Terry McLaurin off the physically unable to perform list Saturday, one day after offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury stressed the urgency in getting the veteran (and other absent offensive starters) back on the field.
McLaurin, 29, has missed the entirety of training camp because of his contract stalemate with the team, and a deal has not yet been reached.
Coach Dan Quinn said the decision to activate McLaurin was not tied to his contract situation, but rather “about his getting ready to play.”
“We have a real process,” Quinn said. “We’re not going to miss the steps and put him out there before guys are ready to do their thing. So, that’s where we’re at.”
McLaurin has one year remaining on his current contract, a three-year deal he signed in 2022 worth approximately $70 million. He skipped part of the voluntary organized team activities in the spring, missed all of mandatory minicamp, then held out for the first few days of training camp before reporting and getting placed on PUP with what the team said was an ankle injury. (McLaurin was on the injury report for the final two weeks of the 2024 regular season with an ankle injury, but wasn’t on the report at all in the postseason.)
On PUP, McLaurin was able to participate in team meetings and work with the strength and conditioning coaches and athletic trainers, but he could not practice or participate in the walkthroughs.
But he was not on the field for the Commanders’ workout on Saturday, which Quinn indicated was expected.
“PUP is really focused on rehab, and once you’re leaving that, you’re shifting focus on rehab to returning to play,” the coach said. “ … Doesn’t mean you’re back practicing and doing all that just yet, but it does mean steps are going forward.”
When asked explicitly if McLaurin — who had said earlier this summer that he didn’t expect to return to the field until there was progress toward a new deal — agreed to participate or if he told the team he would not participate in any on-field work, Quinn was vague.
“Yeah, that’s all part of the PUP and returning to play,” he responded.
Should McLaurin decline to participate while under contract and medically cleared, the team would have discretion in issuing any fines.
The sixth-year receiver has not played a live rep of football in 202 days, as of Saturday. His last live work was in the Commanders’ NFC Championship Game loss to the Eagles on Jan. 26.
The Commanders have held a relatively light training camp this year, and McLaurin’s chances for full team competition are dwindling as the Sept. 7 season opener approaches. The Commanders and Baltimore Ravens mutually called off their Aug. 21 joint practice ahead of their final preseason game, citing “logistical challenges.” Quinn ruled the receiver (and 11 other starters) out for Monday’s preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals and indicated it was unlikely that McLaurin would play against the Ravens.
“It would be hard at that spot based on how quick the turnaround is from Monday to Saturday,” Quinn said of McLaurin playing in the preseason finale. “ … I wouldn’t rule anything out, but that’d be probably a little quicker than it should be.”
But if McLaurin “hits his markers” in his return-to-play regimen, he would be on track to play in the regular-season opener against the New York Giants, Quinn said.
McLaurin’s absence from training camp, along with those of receiver Noah Brown (knee) and guards Sam Cosmi (knee) and Brandon Coleman (lower body), has made it difficult for the Commanders offense to build on the momentum it created last season, when the team went 12-5.
The Commanders’ preseason opener against the New England Patriots was played almost exclusively by reserves and was one of the team’s worst showings since 2023 — preseason or regular season. When the team returned to Ashburn last week, it had multiple jog-throughs before holding an intrasquad scrimmage with starters and reserves.
The first-team offense with quarterback Jayden Daniels appeared sloppy and out of sync. Daniels struggled to connect with his pass catchers, save for veteran wideout Deebo Samuel and tight end Zach Ertz, and the offensive line, which was without both starting guards, couldn’t keep up with the defense’s pass rush.
“I don’t think until we get some of these other pieces back, we’re going to know exactly what we are,” Kingsbury said of the offense on Friday. “We’ve had some good opportunities to see other guys get work in these positions, but when you don’t have your projected top two outside receivers (or) both of your projected inside pieces at guard, it’s not going to really give you the chance to jell or build that relationship until you get everybody else on the grass. So, that’s something we have to get to over the next three weeks.”
Kliff Kingsbury on needing to see everyone out there to get a feel for where the offense really is pic.twitter.com/5dpZ7bMjua
— Mitchell Tischler (@Mitch_Tischler) August 15, 2025
McLaurin has never stated how much he’s looking to earn in an extension. He’s only said he believes his value to the team is in line with what the top receivers in the league are currently making. Nine wideouts are earning at least $30 million a year.
It’s plausible that the floor for McLaurin’s camp is $32 million to $33 million a year in average value. DK Metcalf, another 2019 draft pick whose production has been similar in some respects, signed a four-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers that averages $33 million in annual value.
Among the sticking points for the team is McLaurin’s age; he turns 30 on Sept. 15. The first season of an extension would be when he’s 31. Over the years, the production and availability of star receivers in their 30s typically decline significantly.
(Photo: Timothy Nwachukwu / Getty Images)