Terry McLaurin Ready to Shine Again After Quad Injury
The Washington Commanders are poised to welcome back one of their most dynamic playmakers. Terry McLaurin, the two-time Pro Bowler, has been diligently working his way back from a quad injury, and he suggests that his current state is a significant improvement over previous attempts at recovery. Speaking with reporters, McLaurin exuded a sense of confidence and energy, noting a newfound comfort and explosiveness that he had been lacking earlier in the season.
McLaurin Feels ‘Faster and Freer’
As the Commanders have navigated through a challenging season, McLaurin’s absence has been felt deeply. The team has missed his reliability, leadership, and ability to stretch the field. After an initial attempt to return to action was thwarted by a re-aggravation of his injury, McLaurin now describes his current condition as markedly better.
“I feel really good. I feel better this time around than I did last time,” he shared. “Even when I came back last time, I felt like I was ready. Just had a little aggravation, but I feel good. I just feel like I do not really have any tightness in my injury area. I feel like my acceleration is there, just kind of like that next gear that I have, and I am just not really thinking about it at all.”
Hitting 21 MPH on the Practice Field
McLaurin’s “next gear” was put to the test during practice this week. He connected with quarterback Jayden Daniels on a deep pass, a moment that was reassuring for both players. “I told him, thanks for helping me hit 21 miles an hour today, because we got to hit a deep ball and it just feels right,” he noted, signaling that he is ready to return to competitive action.
Reflecting on his earlier setback this season, McLaurin was asked if he felt he had rushed back into play too soon. “No, not at all,” he replied confidently. “I think the plan was a great plan for me. The good thing about it is I am very vocal with our training staff, so they knew where I stood and how I was feeling leading up. I was hitting everything that I needed to do. I just got into an awkward position laying out for that football, and that was kind of like the susceptibility of the injury.”
Embracing the Challenges of the NFL
McLaurin also shared his perspective on the nature of injuries in the NFL, acknowledging their inevitability. “I think as NFL players, we sometimes fear injury, but at the end of the day, if you are going to be out here, injury is one hundred percent guaranteed if you are blessed enough to play this game long enough. So there is never a question in my mind that I am going to take it easy or take a step back.”
Growth Through Adversity
Despite the challenges of being sidelined, McLaurin used his time away from the field to grow both mentally and spiritually. “Even during this downtime, I have grown a lot in my faith and I have grown a lot as a person,” he explained. “The biggest thing I am proud of is just the way I have handled it. I tried to keep a positive attitude, and even on the bench, it’s going to sound kind of crazy, but I just had a smile because even with the disappointment, I still just had joy that I was going to be okay.”
As McLaurin prepares to rejoin the lineup, the Commanders could be on the brink of rejuvenating their offense. His confidence, perspective, and restored explosiveness could provide the spark Washington needs as they push through the second half of the season. If he is indeed back to full speed, the Commanders’ offensive threat level increases significantly, making them a team to watch in the coming weeks.
