Commanders Injury Update: Terry McLaurin 'Day-to-Day' For Week 1 vs. Cardinals

Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin's status for Week 1 is in doubt.

The Washington Commanders could be without one of their best players in their season opener Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals.

Terry McLaurin suffered a turf toe injury late in the first half of the Commanders' 29-28 preseason win over the Baltimore Ravens on Aug. 21. While the team has expressed optimism about his status, recent reports may prove otherwise. 

According to Washington Post reporter Nicki Jhabvala, McLaurin remains "day-to-day," but there's hope he can play on Sunday.

Commanders WR Terry McLaurin (turf toe) is progressing in his recovery and is considered day to day, per sources. There’s hope he can play in the opener Sunday, but his status is still uncertain.

— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 5, 2023

With Washington's first game coming on Sept. 10, McLaurin could be threading the needle if he returns by then. The injury may also force head coach Ron Rivera and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy to consider if rushing him back is worth the risk. 

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The Cardinals in the midst of a rebuild. They're expected to be one of the worst teams in the NFL and could be vying for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Arizona has further fed into that notion by trading defensive back Isaiah Simmons to the New York Giants and offensive lineman Josh Jones to the Houston Texans. 

There's no disputing McLaurin's importance to the offense both on and off the field. He's had three straight years with at least 1,000 receiving yards and four touchdowns. With a new offense and a new quarterback, McLaurin's presence for Washington's offense is as important as ever but Washington will have to ask if it's worth the risk to rush him back for Week 1 against Arizona. 

An injury that's manageable could become more severe and cause McLaurin to miss even more time if he just tries to get back on the field as fast as he can. If the Commanders are going to reach their full potential, they need McLaurin on the field. 

If McLaurin is ready, he should play Week 1. If he isn't, missing games early are worth it to ensure he's healthy down the stretch of the season.