McLaurin's $96M Return: Commanders Eye Week 1 Readiness After Holdout

Holdout over, money secured! Terry McLaurin is back with the Commanders after signing a massive $96 million deal. But can he really get up to speed in time for Week 1 after missing so much? Washington’s coaching staff seems pretty confident, but what do you think?

Star wide receiver Terry McLaurin is poised for a significant return to the Washington Commanders, with the team expressing strong expectations for his Week 1 availability after resolving a prolonged contract dispute.

McLaurin’s absence from training camp and the entire preseason stemmed from a contentious contract holdout. This period of negotiation culminated in a lucrative new $96 million deal, signaling a renewed commitment from both the player and the franchise.

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Head coach Dan Quinn unequivocally stated his confidence on Wednesday, asserting that McLaurin “absolutely” possesses ample time to integrate into Washington’s offensive strategy for the regular-season opener against the Giants.

While general manager Adam Peters maintained a more guarded stance, classifying McLaurin and Noah Brown as day-to-day, his public apology to Coach Quinn for the holdout’s duration underscored the organization’s understanding and support for their star asset. Peters also emphasized the team’s consistent “love, respect and admiration for Terry and what he does on and off the field.”

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McLaurin’s return to practice on Wednesday marked a crucial step, his first on-field appearance in August after spending two weeks on the physically unable to perform list due to an ankle injury, which was a separate issue from his contract situation.

The five-time 1,000-yard receiver had been due to earn $22.8 million in the final year of his previous three-year extension. His decision to attend practices and preseason games as a non-participant, while facing substantial fines for missing mandatory sessions, highlighted the intensity of the negotiations spearheaded by agents Buddy Baker and Anthony Bonagura.

The financial implications of McLaurin’s new agreement are considerable; his $32 million average annual value now places him among the NFL’s elite wideouts, tied for sixth with Philadelphia Eagles’ A.J. Brown, though still trailing Cincinnati Bengals star Ja’Marr Chase.

With this new landmark deal, the Washington Commanders are keenly anticipating McLaurin’s full contribution, banking on his dynamic playmaking ability to significantly bolster their offense as they prepare to kick off the highly anticipated NFL season.