Former Ohio State Buckeyes wide receiver Terry McLaurin was carted off with a left knee injury in the first quarter of the Washington Commanders’ 23-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night.
McLaurin went down while running a route on third-and-9 near the sideline as quarterback Jayden Daniels was sacked. His left knee buckled during the play, and he clutched it while remaining on the ground.
Medical staff placed an air cast on his left leg before helping him onto the cart. He was unable to leave the field under his own power and was ruled out for the rest of the game.
Commanders coach Dan Quinn said after the loss that the injury could be significant.
“The concern now is that it could be significant,” Quinn said. “We’ll do the scans (Tuesday) and give you an update. But that’s the concern tonight. It’s definitely something that there’s fear.”
McLaurin entered the contest having played in four games this season. He has 15 catches for 230 yards and one touchdown, leading the Commanders in receiving yards. He added a 27-yard reception on the opening drive Monday before the injury.
The 31-year-old missed Week 4 against the Colts with a hamstring injury. He returned the following week but saw limited snaps as the issue lingered.
At Ohio State, McLaurin developed into a reliable contributor after redshirting in 2014. He finished his Buckeyes career with 75 receptions for 1,251 yards and 19 touchdowns across 47 games.
As a senior in 2018, he caught 35 passes for 701 yards and 11 scores while leading the Big Ten in yards per reception at 20.0. He served as a team captain in both 2017 and 2018.
McLaurin was part of Ohio State teams that won a national championship in 2014 and three Big Ten titles. He also earned praise for his blocking and special teams play during his time in Columbus.
Selected by Washington in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, McLaurin has become a franchise cornerstone. He has recorded 512 receptions for 7,164 yards and 42 touchdowns in 111 career games.
He earned Pro Bowl honors in 2022 and 2024. His 2024 campaign included a career-high 13 touchdown catches to go with 82 receptions and 1,096 yards.
Injuries limited him in 2025, when he missed seven games primarily due to a quadriceps issue and finished with 38 catches for 582 yards. This season’s setback continues a recent pattern of health concerns.
The Commanders have dealt with multiple injuries already, including time missed by Daniels and others. Further testing will determine how long McLaurin is sidelined.
Scans are scheduled for Tuesday to provide a clearer picture of the knee injury’s severity. His status for future games remains uncertain pending those results.
