The Commanders will head into a Monday night showdown against the Bears with a shorthanded receiving corps. Terry McLaurin (quad) and Noah Brown (groin) will miss the game, according to Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic.
This will be the third straight absence for McLaurin, which isn’t what the Commanders had in mind when they signed the two-time Pro Bowler to a three-year, $87MM extension in late August. The agreement came after a well-publicized standoff between the two sides. The 30-year-old has caught 10 of 17 targets for 149 yards and no touchdowns in three games this season.
Washington has gone even longer without Brown, who hasn’t played since a Week 2 loss to the Packers. After a 35-catch 2024, his first season with the Commanders, Brown has hauled in three of seven targets for 36 yards in two games this year.
First-year Commander and former 49er Deebo Samuel has served as the team’s top target in McLaurin’s absence. Luke McCaffrey, who’s behind Brown on the depth chart, pulled in a 50-yard reception in a win over the Chargers last week. While McCaffrey only has seven catches this year, he has averaged 20.9 yards per grab and scored a pair of TDs.
More NFC injury updates heading into Week 6:
- The Lions will face the Chiefs on Sunday without starting left tackle Taylor Decker. The 10th-year man will miss his second game in a row as a result of a shoulder injury. Worsening matters for the Lions, they’ve also ruled out backup tackle Giovanni Manu. After making his first career start in place of Decker last week, Manu is down with a knee injury. With Decker and Manu unavailable, Dan Skipper is expected to start at left tackle in Kansas City.
- The Falcons will go without receiver Darnell Mooney on Monday against the Bills, Marc Raimondi of ESPN.com reports. Mooney, who’s dealing with a hamstring injury, will miss his second game of the season. He missed a Week 1 loss to the Buccaneers after suffering a shoulder injury in late July. With 64 catches, 992 yards, and five touchdowns in his first season with the Falcons in 2024, the former Bear enjoyed one of the best years of his career. His production has dropped over three games this year, though, with Mooney having caught seven of 16 targets for 79 yards. No. 1 receiver Drake London, tight end Kyle Pitts, and running back Bijan Robinson are the only Falcons with double-digit receptions this season.
UPSET SPECIAL: The Bears certainly don’t have to be reminded how their last game in Washington ended. It’s payback time. GO BEARS!
Holding out/in tends to result in injury.
Given how many times it’s happened I’m surprised more teams don’t put clauses in those contracts that protect them in case of injury like pay reduction. Fine you want to hold out, Then take the consequences when you get injured 5 minutes into the season. Put your money where your actions are. Why not go through camp, Have the team back you up in case you get hurt, Then if the season starts and no agreement THEN sit, But at least you’re ready to play. It’s ridiculous.
No Darnell and Ray Ray was benched. Perhaps the Falcons have decided that getting solid blocking on the edge benefits them more than a few targets for Ray Ray and no blocking.
I was very shocked how much the Falcons changed their game plan last night, focusing their looks on their best four weapons (Bijan, Drake, Tyler, and Pitts). They have routinely wasted looks and plays on under-talents and it stymies their offense. Focus on the main four and put pieces around them that enahnce them, instead of taking away chances.