Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin was recently activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list, marking a key step forward in his recovery. Head Coach Dan Quinn confirmed that McLaurin is no longer rehabbing but has shifted his focus to conditioning and engaging in football-simulated activities to prepare for the upcoming season.
Meanwhile, linebacker Noah Brown has missed several practices this week due to an undisclosed injury, though Quinn expressed optimism about his return, stating,
“The arrow is pointing up for him.”
Stalemate in Terry McLaurin’s Contract Extension Talks
Efforts to extend Terry McLaurin’s contract have encountered difficulties as the wide receiver seeks a salary exceeding $30 million annually. According to reports from The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, multiple <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/”>NFL executives consulted on the matter have not been willing to offer more than $27 to $28 million per year in an extension. This gap in expectations has resulted in stalled negotiations between the player and the team, with the Commanders maintaining a firm stance on their valuation of McLaurin.
Leadership Perspectives from the Eagles’ Front Office
In a related development from the league, the Philadelphia Eagles have drawn attention for strategic front office appointments. Adam Berry, the team’s vice president of operations and strategy, recently spoke about his transition from a 14-year career at Goldman Sachs to the NFL. Despite the rarity of such a move in football, Berry credited Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman for recognizing the value of his business skills combined with his football background.
“Because it happened so rarely in football in particular, I didn’t know that was necessarily going to be a path,” Berry said, via Zach Berman of The Athletic. “But giving Howie a lot of credit to where he had a vision for the skills that I have developed in the business world. Having played in college, and having a bit of a football background, of how those things could translate to the role that he envisioned for me here. He was the first person to really see that before myself.” —Adam Berry, Eagles Vice President of Operations and Strategy
Andrew Berry, Adam’s twin brother and General Manager of the Cleveland Browns, praised the decision, noting it was “a perfect fit” for his brother to work in an environment combining football and business acumen. He emphasized the unique opportunity provided by Roseman and the Eagles organization as an ideal starting point for a career in the NFL.
“I just thought it was a perfect fit,” Andrew Berry stated. “This is a guy who grew up a huge football fan, played football, college football, and everything, and had built a career in terms of resource allocation and risk management. I really felt like a lot of the same appeal to him working in financial services could be applied in a role that he was going to take on with Philadelphia, just with a product, if you will, that was a lot more fun. And also just knowing the opportunity to work for Howie, a Hall of Fame GM, a great organization, a place that I knew would be a great training ground for him, with wonderful people. I was just like, ‘Hey, this is pretty unique. … If you think you want to do a career switch, this is about the best opportunity that you could ask for.’” —Andrew Berry, Cleveland Browns GM
Roseman himself highlighted the importance of intelligence and passion for football in Adam Berry’s recruitment, expressing confidence in his instincts and potential contributions to the team.
“I think that when you’re talking about smart people who have a passion for something, and then when you give them an opportunity to do some things, to test them out, show that they have an instinct for it,” Roseman said. —Howie Roseman, Eagles GM
Injuries and Roster Updates from the New York Giants
The New York Giants are managing several player health issues as they approach the season. Head Coach Brian Daboll provided an update on left tackle Andrew Thomas, explaining that Thomas is following a rehab schedule and working hard to return as soon as possible, emphasizing a cautious, day-by-day approach.
“He’s on his rehab schedule. Working hard to get back as quickly as he can… Day by day. See where we’re at. Make that decision when we think it’s best for us and him.” —Brian Daboll, Giants Head Coach
Assistant General Manager Brandon Brown made it clear that the team has no plans to trade quarterback Jameis Winston, responding to rumors by asserting,
“Jameis is a New York Giant.”
“I appreciate that people are interested but Jameis is a New York Giant.” —Brandon Brown, Giants Assistant GM
Wide receiver Malik Nabers has faced recent challenges with both a minor back issue and toe concerns that might eventually require surgery. After a period of limited practice engagement, Nabers has returned to the field with the team closely monitoring his condition to ensure he is fully fit for Week 1.
“Just, like I said, the process is just making sure I’m as healthy as I need to be when it’s time to play ball.” —Malik Nabers, Giants Wide Receiver
Additionally, running back Cam Skattebo, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury for several weeks, has also resumed practice, signaling positive progress for the Giants’ offense.
The Broader Implications of McLaurin’s Contract Standoff
The ongoing contract negotiation between Terry McLaurin and the Commanders highlights the challenging balance teams face in managing salary demands while building competitive rosters. McLaurin’s pursuit of a salary above $30 million per year reflects his status as a premier receiver, but the Commanders’ reluctance to exceed $28 million underscores financial constraints and budgeting philosophy. This impasse could influence Washington’s offseason strategy and roster decisions as they seek to finalize their lineup before training camp advances.
The potential resolution of these talks will be closely watched across the NFL, given McLaurin’s impact on the field and the precedent it may set for wide receiver contracts league-wide. The Commanders’ firm negotiating stance may pressure other teams and players as contract talks unfold, while also defining McLaurin’s future role with the team as the new season approaches.