Luke McCaffrey is entering his second NFL season another year older and wiser, and the differences in his game are "night and day," according to Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury.
"Luke has really come a long way from last year this time to now just the confidence \[is there\]," Kingsbury said.
While the Commanders would love it if wide receivers Noah Brown and Terry McLaurin were on the field, the "silver lining," as Kingsbury put it, is that other players have the chance to step up in their absence. McCaffrey has been one of those players, and the former third-round pick is entering the 2025 season with a hunger for a more impactful role.
"It's been a lot of fun," McCaffrey said. "Just coming in bigger, stronger, faster, and then just catching a rhythm."
McCaffrey's contributions to Washington's offense were limited in 2025. He had 18 receptions for 168 yards in 17 games, although he did have some pivotal contributions like his 30-yard catch-and-run on fourth-and-5 against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 3. He was also one of the team's primary kick returners when Austin Ekeler missed time with concussions and averaged 29.9 yards per return.
Most of his snaps in 2024 were in the slot, and according to Rotowire, only tight end Zach Ertz saw more snaps in that area of the field on the Commanders' roster. Over the last few weeks, however, McCaffrey has gotten snaps on the outside matched up against rookie cornerback Trey Amos. One of his best snaps came on Aug. 2 when he made an over-the-shoulder sideline catch from Jayden Daniels. He made another impressive catch during joint practices with the New England Patriots, also from Daniels, as the quarterback threaded a pass between two defenders.
Although it's unlikely McCaffrey will spend much time on the outside once Brown and McLaurin return, Kingsbury likes that McCaffrey is getting the experience.
"The young kid's \[Amos\] had his number on some plays, but it's been a good battle," Kingsbury said. "Night and day difference from what he was last year at this time."