Commanders fear a season-ending McLaurin knee injury, report says

Update — October 20, 2026

Washington fears Terry McLaurin suffered a season-ending knee injury against San Francisco, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday morning. He said McLaurin would have an MRI Tuesday. The report described the team's concern ahead of that scan; it did not announce a confirmed diagnosis.

Coach Dan Quinn had said after Monday's 23-17 loss that he feared a significant injury and that McLaurin would undergo scans Tuesday. NBC Sports' Josh Alper reported the team's concern about a season-ending injury at 7:17 a.m. Eastern. No MRI result or recovery timetable had been announced in those reports.

Earlier reporting

Terry McLaurin was carted off with a left knee injury in the first quarter of Washington's Monday night game at San Francisco, and the Commanders ruled him out for the remainder of the night.

The team confirmed the decision shortly after he left the field:

McLaurin went down while running a route against 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir on a third-down play. Medical personnel placed an air cast on his left leg before taking him off on a cart, according to the NFL's Grant Gordon. Players from both teams approached him before he departed.

Washington's official gameday blog recorded McLaurin being examined near the sideline at 8:49 p.m. Eastern and being carted off two minutes later. The club's announcement identified a knee injury; it did not give a diagnosis or a timetable beyond ruling him out of Monday's game.

McLaurin had made one catch for 27 yards on Washington's opening possession. That gain helped set up Drew Stevens' 51-yard field goal. It was his only reception before the injury.

ESPN's Adam Schefter also reported the team's ruling:

The loss removes an established target from Jayden Daniels' passing game. McLaurin entered the league with Washington in 2019 and has five 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Gordon reported that Monday's catch brought him to 15 receptions for 230 yards and a touchdown this season.

McLaurin had already missed a game this season with a hamstring strain. Monday's knee injury is a separate development, and its longer-term consequences remain unknown pending an update from the Commanders.