By ALEX RASKIN, US SPORT NEWS EDITOR
Published: 10:45 EDT, 16 August 2025 | Updated: 10:52 EDT, 16 August 2025
The Washington Commanders have activated disgruntled receiver Terry McLaurin off the physically unable to perform (PUP) list as the All-Pro receiver continues to seek a contract extension in D.C. or a trade to a more accommodating organization.
McLaurin, an All-Pro and quarterback Jayden Daniels' favorite target, is entering the final season of his three-year, $68.2 million contact.
Recently he was fined $200,000 by the team for skipping mandatory minicamp and the first four days of training camp. He has since returned to the team facility in Ashburn, Virginia, where he was placed on the PUP list with an ankle injury last month.
Since then, McLaurin has requested a trade, but offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury sparked some optimism this week when he said he wanted to work with the team's full roster.
'We need to start getting those guys, when they´re available out there,' Kingsbury said.
One day later, McLaurin was activated, although what this means for his long-term future remains unclear. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the move to take McLaurin off PUP is strictly about his recovery from ankle problems and not connected to any contract discussions.
Terry McLaurin wants a raise from the Commanders as he enters the final year of his deal
But Stephen A. Smith isn't sure if McLaurin's trade request was a wise idea
The activation comes a week after Stephen A. Smith ripped McLaurin for his holdout and trade request.
'I'm not sure how wise it is for him to take this position at this particular moment in time,' Smith said of McLaurin's trade request on ESPN's First Take earlier this month.
Smith then went on to report that McLaurin was offered around $27m per year by the Commanders.
'The brother is a guy that registers thousand-yard seasons with regularity. He can ball. He is a valuable asset to their franchise,' Smith continued.
'My sources tell me right now, they're at about $27 million with him. I think they should at least come up to $30 million. There's no question about that, but if they come up to $30-$31 million, I'm not sure there's somebody else out there that is giving Terry McLaurin that kind of paper.'
While McLaurin is one of the more consistent receivers in the league - with five consecutive seasons of 1,000-plus receiving yards - he will be 31 years old by the time his next contract begins.
Nonetheless, he gave Daniels a reliable No. 1 target last year as he caught 82 passes for 1,096 yards in the quarterback's rookie season.