Commanders WR Terry McLaurin Unlikely To Play In Week 4; No Surgery Necessary
SEPTEMBER 27: McLaurin will not play in Week 4, but he is not expected to land on injured reserve with a mandatory four-week absence, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The star wideout is considered “week-to-week” with little clarity on his precise return timeline.
SEPTEMBER 25: The Commanders could have quarterback Jayden Daniels available for Week 4 depending on the status of his knee sprain. Even if he is back in the fold for Sunday, however, Washington’s top receiver will likely be unavailable. 
Terry McLaurin has been dealing with a quad injury since the third quarter of the Commanders’ Week 3 win. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the two-time Pro Bowler’s status for this week was uncertain, adding further opinions on his injury would be sought out. Indeed, a visit has taken place with Dr. Williams Meyers, as noted by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Dr. Meyers is an expert on core muscle injuries, something of note given the relatively uncertain nature of McLaurin’s injury. With his prognosis still unclear at this time, signs point to an absence at least covering Washington’s upcoming game. According to Rapoport’s colleague Mike Garafolo, though (video link), the decision to seek out multiple opinions has produced a consensus that core muscle surgery will not be required.
Procedures of that kind often entail long-term absences, so today’s update is an encouraging one for McLaurin. Still, it remains to be seen what his recovery timeline will look like at this point. Any missed time on the part of the 30-year-old would of course deal a major blow to Washington’s offense.
“It’s pretty normal that, when you have something, a second opinion takes place,” head coach Dan Quinn said when speaking about the injury (via Tom Schad and Vic Tafur of the Washington Post). “So as I get into Friday, then we’ll have a sense of ‘Okay, what does it look like for Sunday?’”
McLaurin was among the most talked-about players around the NFL this offseason as he engaged in a contract standoff with the Commanders. In the end, a three-year, $87MM extension was worked out to avoid a potential free agent departure next spring. The Ohio State product has recorded 149 scoreless yards to date as he seeks out a sixth straight season of 1,000 or more yards. Efforts on that front will be hindered by a long absence, but Thursday’s update suggests one may not be in store.
Trade acquisition Deebo Samuel has scored one touchdown through the air and another on the ground early in his Commanders career. The former 49ers All-Pro will be counted on to handle a larger role on offense for however long McLaurin is sidelined, and further updates on that front will be worth monitoring over the coming days.
Commanders’ Sam Cosmi Unlikely To Return From PUP List When First Eligible
While Washington entered the season with some options along its offensive line, the team has already shuffled the position group. Both Brandon Coleman and Nick Allegretti hit the bench in Week 3, moving Chris Paul and Andrew Wylie into the lineup. This will only be a temporary solution, with Samuel Cosmi on the way back.
Cosmi is stashed on the Commanders’ reserve/PUP list, having suffered an ACL tear during the team’s divisional-round upset over the Lions. ACL recovery timetables vary, and while some players have made recoveries from a postseason tear in time for Week 1, many land on the PUP list to open the following season. The Packers used it for Christian Watson, who suffered his ACL tear in Week 18.
The Commanders can bring Cosmi off the PUP list beginning in Week 5, and window would come just less than nine months after the injury. The team should be considered unlikely to activate Cosmi when he is first eligible, with The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala indicating she would be “shocked” if the fifth-year blocker returned at that point. Though, Dan Quinn did say (via NBC4 Sports’ JP Finlay) he does expect Cosmi to be designated for return when first eligible next week.
Even with Cosmi being likely to begin practicing next week, it should be considered more likely he receives a ramp-up period rather than playing in Week 5. The Commanders would have three weeks to activate Cosmi after designating him for return, giving him time to practice while not on the 53-man roster. Teams have also given players longer ramp-up periods, activating them from injured lists but still not using them in games. It is unclear if the 26-year-old guard would need more than a three-week ramp-up period, however.
Washington traded for Laremy Tunsil‘s contract, making the former Texans and Dolphins left tackle its highest-paid O-lineman, but Cosmi still represents a better bet to be around longer. The right guard became the Adam Peters regime’s first big extension last summer, signing a four-year deal worth $74MM. This commitment, which included $26.62MM guaranteed at signing and $45.12MM guaranteed in total, ties Cosmi to the team through 2028. That would stand to lead the Commanders to exercise caution regarding Cosmi’s recovery timetable.
Cosmi, 26, started all 17 Commanders games in 2023 and ’24. ESPN’s run block win rate metric graded the former second-round pick fifth among all interior O-linemen last season. Converted from right tackle earlier in his career, Cosmi would supplant Wylie at RG upon return. Though, Dan Quinn did not guarantee the Allegretti-for-Wylie switch would be a long-term move.
Once Cosmi comes back, however, the team will have Wylie, Paul, Coleman and Allegretti to choose from at left guard. One of these players would probably be in consideration to be cut, though, as teams generally do not carry three backup guards. Wylie and Coleman’s tackle histories would prove helpful for his case to stick around as a swingman, and it would surprise if Washington bailed on Coleman during the ex-third-rounder’s second pro season. Pro Football Focus also viewed Paul’s debut strongly; while an admittedly small sample size, the advanced metrics site ranks the 2022 seventh-round pick as the NFL’s top guard in 2025.
Commanders Place S Will Harris On IR
Last night, it was reported Will Harris suffered a fractured fibula during the Commanders’ Week 3 game. That is indeed the case, as head coach Dan Quinn confirmed on Monday. 
To no surprise, then, Washington has moved Harris to injured reserve. That transaction took place on Monday, per a team announcement. It represents a corresponding move to the addition of veteran defensive back Darnell Savage following today’s visit.
When speaking to the media, Quinn said (via The Athletic’s Nicki Jhabvala) he is hopeful Harris will be able to return at some point this season. An absence of at least four games is ensured as a result of the IR placement, but a longer period than that will be required for Harris to heal in full. The 29-year-old managing to take part in the latter stages of the campaign would be a welcomed development.
Harris has started each of the three games in 2025, his first season as a member of the Commanders. The former Lion and Saint joined Washington in free agency this spring by signing a two-year pact. That $8MM deal marked a raise compared to Harris’ previous contract, and it elevated expectations. Prior to going down yesterday, he posted 11 tackles, one forced fumble and one pass deflection across the current campaign.
With Harris now out of the picture for the time being, Savage could take on a notable role immediately upon joining the team. Otherwise, options in the secondary which began the season in the nation’s capital will be counted on in for the time being. In any case, it will be interesting to see if Harris manages to play again in 2025.
Commanders Sign DB Darnell Savage
12:50pm: Savage’s visit has indeed produced a deal, as confirmed by his agent (via Fowler). Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic reports this is, to no surprise, a one-year pact. Savage will look to take on a regular defensive role with his latest team and rebuild his market value to an extent in the process.
10:28am: Darnell Savage‘s tenure with the Jaguars came to an abrupt end last week. The veteran defensive back finds himself on the open market, but that could change relatively soon. 
Savage has lined up a visit with the Commanders, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports. Today’s news comes in the wake of safety Will Harris suffering a fractured fibula in Week 3. That injury will presumably lead to a stint on injured reserve and create a vacancy in Washington’s secondary.
There is also a degree of familiarity in today’s Washington visit. The Commanders’ current defensive pass game coordinator is Jason Simmons; he and Savage worked together with the Packers in 2019. That represented Savage’s rookie campaign and the first of five years operating as a starter for Green Bay. The former first-rounder had a strong statistical showing during his first two seasons, but afterwards he struggled in coverage.
Upon reaching the open market for the first time in his career, Savage took a three-year, $21.75MM pact to join the Jaguars. The Trent Baalke-Doug Pederson regime was in place at the time, and the 2025 offseason saw their replacements move on from a number of notable contracts. Savage remained in place through the start of the campaign, but in short order the Jags’ new decision makers (general manager James Gladstone and head coach Liam Coen) elected to proceed with a release despite incurring a notable dead money charge in the process.
Savage allowed five touchdowns in coverage during the 2024 campaign, and after recording eight interceptions in his first three seasons he has been held to two since then. Another lucrative pact will not be in store with the Commanders or any other suitors which emerge in the near future, but Savage could carve out a depth role with a new team. Washington entered Monday with over $28MM in cap space, so an in-season signing will not be challenging from a financial perspective.
Commanders S Will Harris Suffers Leg Fracture
As the Commanders overcame one injury to tally a win this weekend, they unfortunately suffered another. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, safety Will Harris suffered a fractured fibula in today’s game. He’ll reportedly undergo further tests to determine the full extent of the injury, but a multi-week absence is likely and could lead to a placement on injured reserve.
Harris is in his first season with the Commanders. A third-round pick for the Lions in 2019, the Boston College product immediately became a strong rotation piece in Detroit’s secondary behind then-starters Tracy Walker and Tavon Wilson in Year 1 and Walker and Duron Harmon in Year 2. By Year 3, it was Harris’ turn to start next to Walker, and in 17 starts, he finished second on the team in total tackles.
As useful as Harris’ versatility in playing snaps all over the field was, it also allowed him to be moved when new starters came in to occupy his position. This happened in 2022, when Harris was utilized more as a cornerback and nickelback after new additions to the roster put him fourth in the pecking order at safety. His role as a safety continued to diminish in 2023, and he saw severely reduced playing time overall on the Lions defense in his final year with the team.
Last year, Harris signed a veteran minimum contract with the Saints and won a camp competition for the starting strong safety job next to Tyrann Mathieu. In 13 starts with New Orleans, Harris had a resurgent season with 74 total tackles, five passes defensed, and an interception. Harris leveraged the strong year into a two-year, $8MM deal with the Commanders to start next to Quan Martin, replacing Jeremy Chinn.
The Commanders aren’t terribly deep at the safety position. Former All-Pro special teamer Jeremy Reaves holds the most experience in the group as an eighth-year veteran, but he hasn’t played significant snaps on defense since 2022. Percy Butler could step into a role as a starter that he held for most of 2023, but Butler fell down the pecking order at safety over the last year and a half. He’ll likely have to do, though, since Tyler Owens — an undrafted rookie last year who played solely on special teams — is the only other safety on the roster.
While Reaves or Butler fill in on defense, Washington will keep a close eye on Harris. If Harris’ fracture is minor enough, there’s certainly a chance that he’ll be able to make a return later on in the year. Until then, the Commanders will have to continue to overcome injury issues early in the season.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/20/25
Here are today’s minor moves and Week 3’s standard gameday practice squad elevations:
Arizona Cardinals
- Elevated: T Jake Curhan, DE Anthony Goodlow
Carolina Panthers
- Elevated: G Brandon Walton
Chicago Bears
- Signed from practice squad: DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
- Elevated: CB Dallis Flowers, LB Carl Jones
- Placed on IR: T Kiran Amegadjie, CB Jaylon Johnson (story)
Cleveland Browns
- Elevated: WR Kaden Davis, CB Dom Jones
Green Bay Packers
- Placed on IR: WR Jayden Reed (story)
Houston Texans
- Signed from practice squad: FB Jakob Johnson
- Elevated: CB Myles Bryant, CB D’Angelo Ross
- Placed on IR: CB Jaylin Smith
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Elevated: TE Quintin Morris
Kansas City Chiefs
- Elevated: CB Kevin Knowles
Las Vegas Raiders
- Elevated: WR Alex Bachman, CB Greedy Vance
Los Angeles Chargers
- Elevated: LB Emany Johnson
Minnesota Vikings
- Elevated: RB Cam Akers, G Henry Byrd
New England Patriots
- Elevated: CB Kobee Minor, LB Mark Robinson
New Orleans Saints
- Signed from practice squad: WR Kevin Austin
- Elevated: DE Fadil Diggs, TE Treyton Welch
- Waived: TE Moliki Matavao
New York Giants
- Signed from practice squad: OLB Tomon Fox
- Elevated: DT Elijah Garcia, LB Neville Hewitt
- Waived: WR Xavier Gipson
New York Jets
- Elevated: S Dean Clark, QB Brady Cook
Philadelphia Eagles
- Elevated: S Marcus Epps, TE Cameron Latu
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Elevated: RB Trey Sermon
- Placed on IR: G Max Scharping (story)
San Francisco 49ers
- Elevated: QB Adrian Martinez, WR Malik Turner
- Placed on IR: OL Spencer Burford
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed from practice squad: S Jerrick Reed II
- Elevated: S D’Anthony Bell, RB Jacardia Wright
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Elevated: T Tyler McLellan
Washington Commanders
- Elevated: CB Antonio Hamilton
- Released from reserve/retired list: OL Nate Herbig
There were some eyes on whether or not the Browns would add a kicker for the weekend after Andre Szmyt needed to undergo some MRI testing, but no such moves were made and Szmyt heads into the weekend without an injury designation. The team did report a workout with veteran kicker Matthew Wright, though, per Howard Balzer of CardsWire.
The 49ers will lose some additional offensive line depth as they place their intended swing tackle, Burford, on injured reserve. Additionally, with Martinez not getting signed to the active roster, it appears that injured starter Brock Purdy will not be active as an emergency option, as was rumored a bit yesterday. Purdy should be inactive as a result.
Herbig announced his retirement at the end of July after spending a good portion of the offseason with the Commanders. The 27-year-old was coming off a 2024 season in which he missed the entirety of the year with a shoulder injury. Washington’s release of Herbig from the reserve/retired list gives him an opportunity to sign with a new team as a free agent. There’s no guarantee that he’s headed anywhere specific, but he likely initiated the transaction in order to explore his options.
Commanders To Start Andrew Wylie At RG
After remaking their offensive line this offseason, the Commanders are still figuring out their best five-man starting combination.
Washington traded for All-Pro LT Laremy Tunsil to replace Brandon Coleman, who flipped inside to left guard. Nick Allegretti switched from left to right guard with Sam Cosmi working his way back from a January ACL tear, and first-round pick Josh Conerly took over for Andrew Wylie at right tackle. Center Tyler Biadasz is the only starter returning to the same position.
That was the starting unit for the first two weeks, but the Commanders are planning to insert Wylie into the lineup at right guard, according to FOX Sports’ Jordan Schultz. The goal is to stabilize the right side of the O-line after Allegretti and Coleman struggled to start the year. Combined, the two allowed 17 pressures across the first tow games, with neither earning an overall grade above 50.0 or a pass-blocking grade above 40.0 from Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
Wylie, an eight-year veteran with 88 starts, has spent the last four seasons playing right tackle, but the first three years of his career included almost 2,000 snaps at right guard, per PFF. The Commanders are hoping he can be a more reliable blocker than Allegretti, which in turn may take some pressure off Conerly.
Of course, Washington would love to get Cosmi back at some point this season after he emerged as an solid right guard in 2023 and 2024. He started the year on the physically unable to perform list and is eligible to return after Week 4.
If Wylie can shore up the right side of Washington’s offensive line, it would be a major boost to a Commanders offense that is entering Week 3 without star quarterback Jayden Daniels. The move could also benefit Wylie, who took a pay cut entering the last year of his contract and lost his starting job to Conerly in training camp. Getting playing time this year will
Commanders To Start QB Marcus Mariota In Week 3
Jayden Daniels did not miss a game during his rookie season and was on the field for the first two contests of the Commanders’ 2025 schedule. His streak of availability has now come to an end, however. 
Daniels suffered a knee sprain in Washington’s Week 2 loss, leaving his status in doubt for the team’s upcoming game against the Raiders. The reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year did not practice Wednesday or Thursday. He did take part on a limited basis this morning, but to little surprise head coach Dan Quinn ruled him out shortly thereafter (h/t Nicki Jhabvala of The Athletic).
With Daniels unavailable, Marcus Mariota will get the start for Week 3. The veteran will have Josh Johnson in place as his backup against Vegas. Mariota handled first-team reps during practice this week in preparation for his first start as a Commander. The former No. 2 pick spent last season in the nation’s capital but played only 100 snaps filling in for Daniels.
Mariota will make his 75th career regular season start on Sunday. The game will allow him to play against one of his former teams, as the 31-year-old spent the 2020 and ’21 campaigns with Vegas. Following that Raiders stint, Mariota started for the Falcons over a 13-game stretch before being benched; he then spent one year as the Eagles’ backup before signing with Washington.
That $6MM pact was followed up by an $8MM one in March. Mariota took a one-year deal both times, so he is a pending free agent. Needless to say, his market value will be largely dictated by his performances while handling QB1 duties. How long Mariota remains atop the depth chart will be an interesting story to follow.
Quinn said a cautious approach will be taken with Daniels as he recovers. Especially given the timing of his injury, the 1-1 team will no doubt engage in a slow-moving process with its franchise quarterback while looking to repeat last year’s deep postseason run. Daniels will be a major factor in that effort, but only after retuning to game action.
Commanders Sign OLB Preston Smith
After a visit on Tuesday, the Commanders have signed Preston Smith, per a team announcement, reuniting the veteran outside linebacker with the team that originally drafted him in 2015.
Smith, 32, has 70.5 career sacks and will bolster Washington’s edge rushing room after defensive end Deatrich Wise suffered a season-ending quad injury last week.
In a corresponding move, cornerback Jonathan Jones was placed on injured reserve with a hamstring injury sustained in Week 2 against the Packers. He will be sidelined for at least four games, though the team has not provided a timeline for his return.
Smith began his NFL career in Washington as a second-round pick in 2015 and impressed with eight sacks and three forced fumbles in his rookie year. He played out his first contract with the franchise, totaling 24.5 sacks and 29 tackles for loss across 64 appearances (50 starts). Smith then hit free agency in 2019, signed with the Packers for $13MM per year, and took his game up a notch with 41.5 sacks and 40 tackles for loss across his next five seasons.
That period that brought a second Green Bay contract. However, Smith started to show signs of his age in 2024, registering just 2.5 sacks and two TFLs over his first nine games with a decreased snap share among a group of younger edge rushers.
Smith’s lack of comfort as 4-3 DE under new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley – compared to his steady production as a 3-4 OLB – also contributed to his statistical downturn and led Smith to request a trade. The Packers obliged, sending him to the Steelers in exchange for a seventh-round pick. Smith saw even less playing time in Pittsburgh and added two sacks and three TFLs to his season tally. He was released 
by the Steelers in January and drew some interest this offseason, though it wasn’t strong enough to result in a contract before the season.
Smith will now join an edge rushing group headlined by Von Miller with several other reliable but unspectacular players. Smith will turn 33 in November and didn’t participate in training camp or the preseason, so his snap count will have to be managed, certainly early on and potentially for the rest of the season. He’s put up at least four sacks in every year of his decade in the NFL, and a repeat effort in 2025 would be a solid outcome for the Commanders defense.
Washington’s injury woes don’t stop with Jones and Wise, either. They’ve spread to the offense, too; tight end John Bates and wide receiver Noah Brown are both considered long shots to play against the Raiders in Week 3, per a pair of reports from JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington.
Commanders Set For Return To DC
As expected, the Commanders received good news today as it was announced that the D.C. Council voted to approve the RFK Stadium Project, allowing the franchise to return to the site of its former home of 36 years. A statement from team owner Josh Harris announced Washington’s plans moving forward. 
“Today is a historic day for D.C., the Commanders organization, and our fans,” the statement began. “With the Council’s approval, we can now move forward on the transformative RFK Project that will bring lasting economic growth for our city.”
Harris went on to thank Mayor Mureil Bowser and several other contributors before concluding, “We are deeply grateful for the warm return to the District and the center of the DMV, and look forward to officially bringing the team back to its spiritual home in 2030.”
A month and a half ago, Harris and Co. cleared a huge hurdle in getting the first vote to pass 9-3 after severe challenges were present from the project’s conception. An incredibly unlikely unanimous congressional vote from all 100 senators allowed Congress to lease the federal land, on which the stadium was to be built, to the city for 99 years. Following the good news, a deal was struck consisting of a $2.7BB investment from the team towards the stadium and a $1BB investment “through various means” from the city for the development of housing, a sports complex, and retail shops on the 174-acre property.
Even after some feckless threats from the commander-in-chief, the D.C. Council pushed the deal through to today’s second vote. After today’s vote passed 11-2, per David Aldridge of The Athletic, the deal will now move on to Bowser’s desk. There’s little doubt whether or not it will get approved from there. Bowser has championed the project and heralded the passing of each obstacle as a victory.
According to ESPN’s John Keim, who’s chronicled this saga from the beginning, there were some last-second scares that could’ve threatened everything. Per Keim, an amendment to the deal was proposed that “called for a $10MM penalty per year if the Commanders did not meet the timeline to build housing.” That amendment — one of 12 — was rejected by the council.
After clearing several hurdles to get to this point, the RFK Stadium Project should be on the final home stretch. The franchise will now have five years to make the nine-mile trek back from Landover, MD.