Deebo Samuel and Terry McLaurin.
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Washington Commanders wide receivers Deebo Samuel and Terry McLaurin.
When it came to the 2025 NFL draft, the Washington Commanders felt so sure about what they had at wide receiver they went ahead and drafted an offensive tackle with their first round pick, taking Oregon’s Josh Conerly Jr. at No. 29 overall.
Just 6 weeks into the regular season — and off to a 3-3 start — it’s a safe bet to say the Commanders wish they could get in their DeLorean, go back to April, and pick any number of wideouts instead of Conerly.
Thursday’s injury report for the Commanders brought bad news in the form of a pair of NFL All-Pro wide receivers getting DNP’d for practice in Terry McLaurin (quad/hip flexor) and Deebo Samuel (heel).
McLaurin has missed the last 3 games and was listed as “limited” in Wednesday’s practice. Samuel leads the Commanders with 34 receptions for 315 yards and 3 touchdowns to go with 8 carries for 45 yards and 1 touchdown.
The Commanders travel to face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in a Week 7 NFC East showdown. Washington is playing on a short week following a 25-24 home loss to the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football in Week 6.
“Commanders practice pre-Dallas, Thursday edition,” NBC4 Sports wrote on its official X account. “Terry McLaurin andDeebo Samuel not seen during the portion of practice media can watch.”
Another starter at wide receiver, veteran Noah Brown, was placed on injured reserve on October 15 with groin and knee injuries after missing the previous 4 games.
Commanders Make Corresponding Move With Burks
The Commanders were forced to scramble this week to find more wide receiver help, bringing in former first round pick Treylon Burks for a visit then reportedly signing him to the practice squad on Thursday.
Burks was a 2022 first round pick (No. 18 overall) by the Tennessee Titans, who have waived him twice in the last 3 months. They put him on injured reserve and waived him after he broke his collarbone on July 26, re-signed him to the practice squad then waived him again on October 7.
Burks has injury issues that extend way beyond just the last few months.
In his first 3 seasons, Burks missed 24 games due to injuries and has career totals of 53 receptions, 699 yards and just 1 touchdown — a fumble recovery in the end zone.
Commanders Probably Can’t Win Without Duo
It’s not a stretch to say the Commanders might not be able to pull off a victory while missing both McLaurin and Samuel — 2 of Washington’s 3 losses this season have come without McLaurin in the lineup.
Their other loss came when quarterback Jayden Daniels was out for 2 games with a sprained knee.
The worst part about McLaurin’s injury was it came as a time when he just seemed like he was starting to ramp back up.
McLaurin, who set the franchise single season record with 13 touchdown receptions in 2024, missed almost all of the offseason and preseason in a contract dispute that ended with him signing a 3-year, $97 million contract extension on August 25.
While McLaurin had 7 receptions for 75 yards in the first 2 games, he had 3 receptions for 74 yards in a Week 3 win over the Las Vegas Raiders before he was sidelined.