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The Washington Commanders kicked off their training camp this week, and a central narrative has emerged: the widespread relief over the return of wide receiver Terry McLaurin. After missing last summer's sessions due to a contract holdout and subsequent hold-in, McLaurin is delighted to be back on the field with his teammates.
McLaurin is now learning a new offensive system, one that differs significantly from the scheme he played in under former coordinator Kliff Kingsbury. Two years ago, the 2019 third-round pick enjoyed a career-best season, hauling in 12 regular-season touchdowns, trailing only Ja'Marr Chase in that category. He added three more scores during the playoffs.
However, last season proved to be a struggle. After returning to practice just before Week 1, McLaurin sustained an injury in Week 3 that sidelined him for seven games. Although he eventually made his way back to the lineup, he finished with career-low numbers across the board. Now, he is driven to leave that forgettable year behind, sharing that motivation with quarterback Jayden Daniels and head coach Dan Quinn.
Things will look different for McLaurin in 2026. His new offensive coordinator, David Blough, is the same age as McLaurin, and the two were college rivals. McLaurin is enthusiastic about Blough's offense, which promises to deploy him in a variety of ways. Shortly after his hiring, Blough stated his intention to get McLaurin 10 targets per game—a comment that resonated well with the veteran receiver.
One strategy Blough will employ to achieve that target volume is moving McLaurin into the slot more frequently. While McLaurin will still line up on the outside, the positional flexibility aims to create favorable matchups for the offense. When asked about rookie third-round pick Antonio Williams and his transition to the NFL, McLaurin offered a detailed breakdown of the slot versus outside roles.
"In the slot, you have more space to move," McLaurin explained. "Not a whole lot of press coverage. Working on linebackers and safeties sometimes. You'll get nickel where you're going against a corner. But you have more spatial awareness, which I think that's naturally why he [Williams] has a good feel. To be a good slot receiver, you have to be quick and sudden, but you also have a good feel for zone. Timing of the routes, timing of the concepts, and being on the same page as the quarterback when he's ready to throw you the ball. When you go on the outside, it's more physical; it's more press-man. You're gonna get bigger corners, so with that you gotta be good with press releases, being physical at the line of scrimmage. When you've got quickness at the line like he has, it's gonna definitely help him get into free releases."
During this week's training camp sessions, McLaurin has already taken several snaps in the slot. He won't be a full-time slot receiver, though; Williams and Luke McCaffrey are also expected to see time there. By incorporating McLaurin into the slot, Washington's offense becomes even more unpredictable. McLaurin has taken note of the high target volume that Amon-Ra St. Brown receives in Detroit, and Blough plans to implement a similar scheme.
Key Analysis
With a new offensive coordinator and a fresh approach, McLaurin could be poised for a statistical bounce-back. Two years ago, he set a career high with 12 touchdowns, and he might eclipse his previous bests in receptions and receiving yards in 2026. That would be a strong response for a 31-year-old receiver who some critics have suggested is slowing down.
Originally reported by yahoo.