The Washington Commanders were without star wide receiver Terry McLaurin for the start of the team’s three-day minicamp. McLaurin will skip the entire mandatory minicamp, while his representation works with the Commanders on a new long-term deal.
No one is worried about McLaurin. Everyone knows he wants to be with the team and understands his importance to the franchise. Eventually, a deal will get done. So, while some coaches express frustration when players miss mandatory work, not Washington coach Dan Quinn.
“Sometimes football and business, they intersect and this is one of those times,” Quinn said. “Terry is a fantastic teammate and really puts in the work and spent a lot of time with them already this offseason. The business side of things, [GM] Adam [Peters] and their crew and Terry and his group, let them work through that.”
Instead of focusing on McLaurin’s absence, the Commanders’ coaching staff is using his absence as an opportunity to give more snaps to younger receivers such as Luke McCaffrey and Jaylin Lane. Therefore, when McLaurin returns, the younger players will have had more time with quarterback Jayden Daniels.
Ultimately, everyone believes Washington and McLaurin will strike a deal. He’s too important to Daniels and the entire franchise.