ASHBURN, Va. – The Washington Commanders’ training camp, held under quiet and intense conditions, has revealed some promising moments for their passing game despite wide receiver Terry McLaurin’s ongoing holdout. As the offense works to find rhythm without McLaurin, key players are stepping forward to fill the void and demonstrate potential impact heading into the season.
On Day 3 of camp, the defense showed dominance, with Mike Sainristil intercepting Jayden Daniels and disrupting multiple plays, but the offense began generating encouraging signs by the red zone drill. Quarterback Marcus Mariota connected with second-year tight end Ben Sinnott on a difficult low catch for a touchdown, followed shortly by Luke McCaffrey’s contested reception over rookie cornerback Trey Amos, signaling a spark from the receiving group despite McLaurin’s absence.
Adjusting Focus on Pass Catchers in McLaurin’s Absence
The Commanders would have prioritized pass catchers regardless of McLaurin’s contract situation, yet his holdout intensifies the necessity for others to emerge. Washington’s acquisition of Deebo Samuel from the San Francisco 49ers brings a versatile playmaker who thrives with the ball in his hands, providing an unconventional option rather than a traditional wideout role.
General Manager Adam Peters, familiar with Samuel from their time in San Francisco, praised his enthusiasm and drive entering the new team’s offense, emphasizing his renewed energy during offseason workouts.
He’s always had a great joy about him, and it seems as good as it’s ever been in terms of his love for being around football, playing football, being around his teammates and being on the football field,
—Adam Peters, General Manager
And it was almost enhanced this spring, just the way maybe he’s … being in a new offense and having new challenges. He seems like he’s really revitalized, and he’s been an awesome teammate and he’s really working his tail off to be in excellent shape.
—Adam Peters, General Manager
Samuel’s versatility promises to enhance offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury’s scheme, which ranked low in yards per reception and yards after catch on screen plays last season, despite a high volume of completions. Veteran tight end Zach Ertz expressed optimism about Samuel’s role as a key offensive piece once pads are on and games begin.
A guy like Deebo, you can really do whatever you want with him as a chess piece,
—Zach Ertz, Tight End
So, I think he’s going to be a huge piece of our offense, really excited to see him going, especially when you get the pads on. I know you can feel his physicality without pads on, but I know he is going to take it to another level when we get the ball in his hands in the games or preseason games or practice.
—Zach Ertz, Tight End
Veteran Receivers and New Additions Rising to the Challenge
Alongside Samuel, veterans such as Zach Ertz and Noah Brown bring experience and reliability. Brown joined the Commanders after his release from the Texans and made a notable impact last year with 35 catches in nine games, earning several penalties for pass interference that contributed yardage beyond many other <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/”>NFL players.
You’ve gotta be hard to guard,
—Noah Brown, Wide Receiver
People hold onto you when you’re about to win, so just playing fast and being confident in my routes, and I think that I’ll either get the chance or the penalty.
—Noah Brown, Wide Receiver
Chris Moore and Michael Gallup also rotated through starting roles, hoping to make significant contributions following irregular paths earlier in their careers. Moore, on his fourth team in as many years, and Gallup, who recently came out of retirement, displayed promising moments in practice. Head coach Dan Quinn highlighted Gallup’s notable ability to reach for deep balls and his high energy as he reintegrates into the offense.
He can really extend to go get the ball,
—Dan Quinn, Head Coach
There’s one of the things he’s known for is deep ball and on the sideline being able to use that length and extension. He’s got great energy about him and just getting back into the flow of it with a new system also. It was good to have him through the offseason to get himself prepared to really come and do his thing.
—Dan Quinn, Head Coach
In addition, the team’s fourth-round draft pick, Jaylin Lane, is viewed as another promising target as the Commanders develop their receiving corps during camp.
Building on Last Year’s Breakout Receiving Season Without McLaurin
The current absence of McLaurin recalls the unexpected situation from last year, when first-round pick Jahan Dotson was traded midway through training camp. This forced other receivers, including Olamide Zaccheaus and Dyami Brown, to take on larger roles and produce career highs, with Brown catching more passes than in his previous three seasons combined. However, Zaccheaus and Brown have since left in free agency, and Brown has struggled with availability, creating a further demand for emerging talent in the receiving room.
The Commanders’ receiving unit this season is expected to resemble last year’s mix of seasoned players overlooked elsewhere and younger athletes scouted and developed specifically to fit the team’s system.
I love that we scout and pick players for us, not for the NFL: What fits us?
—Dan Quinn, Head Coach
And there’s a culture element to that as well. We’re not for everybody, but for the guys that, man, love ball, love competing, this is the type of environment that you could really thrive in.
—Dan Quinn, Head Coach
Younger Players Poised for Increased Responsibility
Among Washington’s recent draft picks, several promising talents have already made their mark during minicamp. Tight end Ben Sinnott earned praise for his dependable catches, while Luke McCaffrey, who began his collegiate career as a quarterback, has benefited from a full offseason of focused training in the professional environment.
It was nice not having to prep for a bunch of stuff and the draft cycle, so [I] really got to hone in on the weight room and the speed training,
—Luke McCaffrey, Tight End
It’s nice when you know the playbook, and you know the rhythm of everything, and you’re not having to do extra work on that, so you can really hone in on your body and your skills.
—Luke McCaffrey, Tight End
The Commanders hope these young players can solidify their roles alongside veterans and contribute significantly to the offense as the preseason progresses.
Competition and Development Mark the Path Forward
With training camp still in its early stages, the Commanders focus on building competitiveness and cohesion within the receiving unit. As roster decisions loom, the team looks to its mix of young talent, seasoned free agents, and revitalized players to make noise and increase productivity in the passing game, aiming to mitigate the impact of Terry McLaurin’s absence.
The ongoing development of these pass catchers will be essential for Washington’s offensive success and critical to preserving a balanced attack under Kliff Kingsbury’s offensive strategy.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Why does Terry McLaurin wear 17?
A. Terry McLaurin, who plays as a receiver, chose the number 17. He preferred 83, which he wore at Ohio State, but Brian Quick already had that number. Other numbers he considered were 80 and 17.
Q. How much is Terry McLaurin asking for?
A. Terry McLaurin’s contract holdout is the main focus at the Washington Commanders’ 2025 training camp. The experienced wide receiver wants a new contract worth around $32–33 million each year, similar to what the Steelers gave DK Metcalf.
Q. Why is Terry McLaurin called F1?
A. McLaurin liked the nickname “F1” because it related to his speed and the car company McLaren, or he preferred no nickname at all. However, “Scary Terry” became popular, especially after he scored two touchdowns against the Giants, with both his celebrations connected to it.