Noah Brown couldn't get healthy, and the Washington Commanders have finally admitted defeat. The team placed their veteran wide receiver on injured reserve, meaning he'll be out for the next four games after getting hurt once again against the Green Bay Packers earlier this season.
This also explains why the Commanders are reportedly hosting Treylon Burks for a visit. He has a similar size and scope to Brown, but without the previous production to match. Whether anything comes from the meeting remains to be seen, but Washington could be in the market for another pass-catcher to offset this latest injury blow.
It wasn't all doom and gloom. In fact, the latest development around second-team All-Pro wideout Terry McLaurin is arguably much more significant.
Commanders will get Terry McLaurin back at practice heading into Week 7
Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed to the media that McLaurin will practice throughout the week. This is a significant development — one that could see the former Ohio State standout take the field after a three-game absence against the Dallas Cowboys.
McLaurin has been dealing with quad and hip issues suffered in Week 3 against the Las Vegas Raiders. The two-time Pro Bowler has been missed, especially last time out, but the Commanders were right to err on the side of caution with their most prolific weapon in the passing attack.
Now, he's ready to return. And with Brown now set for yet another extended spell on the sidelines, the Commanders need McLaurin more than ever before.
Like all players under Washington's coaching and medical staff, McLaurin must meet specific benchmarks before his confidence in his chances grows. His competitive fire will drive him to make one final push to get back involved. And after a frustrating few weeks, he's finally making good progress.
The Commanders are a better team when McLaurin is firing on all cylinders. He's one of the league's best for a reason, and Adam Peters eventually gave him a new contract this offseason following a lengthy standoff. Washington's season is teetering at 3-3 with a tough stretch of games upcoming before their trip to Spain. They need their established stars available and performing well.
McLaurin is among them, and if he can get the all-clear versus Washington's most bitter rival this weekend, that's going to give everyone a monumental morale boost at the perfect time.
Watching McLaurin's progress in the coming days will tell fans more. But barring any unforeseen setbacks, the Commanders could have their talisman involved at long last.