The Washington Commanders got bad, but not unexpected, news on Tuesday when Terry McLaurin was ruled out for the remainder of the season with a torn left patellar tendon.
asserted
McLaurin → get → tendon
Coach Dan Quinn confirmed the injury during a news conference the afternoon after his team’s 23-17 loss to the 49ers.
asserted
Quinn → confirm → 49ers
When asked about what’s next for his team’s receiving group, Quinn said he hadn’t gotten that far down the road yet.
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he → ask → road
“We do have a deep crew at that position, and we’ll lean in on a number of the guys to find some of the unique roles that Terry does,” Quinn said.
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Quinn → have → that
McLaurin had one catch for 27 yards before he was injured in the first quarter against the 49ers.
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he → have → 49ers
His absence leaves the last-place Commanders (1-4-1) in a tough spot.
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absence → leave → spot
Washington will need to get more production out of veteran Stefon Diggs, rookie Antonio Williams and Treylon Burks.
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Washington → need → Diggs
Diggs had six catches for 44 yards and a touchdown against the Niners, and Williams had three receptions for 50 yards.
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Williams → have → yards
The Commanders have issues at running back, too.
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Commanders → have → back
Jacory Croskey-Merritt was placed on injured reserve just before kickoff on Monday, leaving Rachaad White (seven carries) and Jeremy McNichols (five) to split time in the backfield.
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Merritt → place → backfield
Austin Ekeler had just one carry.
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Ekeler → have → carry
Washington is likely to use a similar by-committee approach to replace its captain and top receiver.
What’s working
Rookie first-round pick Sonny Styles led both teams Monday with 13 tackles.
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pick → use → tackles
The linebacker has been stellar in coverage and flashed against the 49ers with a pass breakup against Mike Evans.
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linebacker → flash → Evans
Styles leads the team with 46 tackles and has been one of the bright spots on a defense that ranks 26th in the league in yards allowed per play.
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that → lead → play
What needs help
Penalties.
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What → need → Penalties
While the Commanders committed seven penalties for 66 yards on Monday, they came at crucial moments.
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they → commit → moments
Those included an illegal shift on a fourth down in the second quarter when the Commanders were trailing 13-3.
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Commanders → include → quarter
A game-tying touchdown was called back in the fourth quarter because of a facemask penalty on Chris Paul.
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touchdown → tie → Paul
With 21 seconds left and the Commanders at the 49ers 28, Daniels was pressured and was flagged for intentional grounding.
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Daniels → leave → grounding
Such mistakes, both before and after the snap, have been an issue all season.
Stock up
Chig Okonkwo.
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mistakes → stock → Okonkwo
After a strong performance last week against the Giants, the tight end led the team with seven catches for 69 yards.
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end → lead → yards
His role could only expand in McLaurin’s absence.
uncertain
role → expand → absence
In the first half Monday, Daniels threw the ball away on fourth down rather than to a receiver.
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Daniels → throw → receiver
ESPN cameras captured Quinn seemingly confused about what down it was, although Quinn said after the game he was fully aware of the situation.
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he → capture → situation
Regardless, it brought back fresh memories of how Quinn, Daniels and the Commanders botched the final seconds of a tie against the Giants a week earlier.
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Quinn → bring → Giants
Burks left the game with an unspecified injury in the fourth quarter.
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Burks → leave → quarter
Quinn said he’d have updates next week on him and defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw (knee).
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he → say → knee
The Commanders went 3 of 12 on third down against the 49ers.
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Commanders → go → 49ers
Up next
After a bye this week, the Commanders host the Eagles on Nov. 1.
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Commanders → host → Nov.
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