‘Praying for Terry’: Jayden Daniels Reacts to Commanders WR’s Major Knee Scare

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin left Monday night's 23-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on a cart with a left knee injury the team fears is serious. He went down without contact in the first quarter at Levi's Stadium, and the Commanders ruled him out right away.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels addressed the injury after the game and spoke about McLaurin in personal terms while the 1-4-1 Commanders await an official diagnosis.

Jayden Daniels reacts to Terry McLaurin's knee injury in Commanders' loss to 49ers

McLaurin's left knee buckled as he cut to the outside on third-and-9 with 2:16 left in the first quarter. He stayed down while teammates knelt nearby, and trainers took him off on a cart with his leg in an air cast. Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was in coverage on the route. McLaurin caught one pass for 27 yards on the opening drive, which ended in a field goal. He played seven snaps.

Quarterback Jayden Daniels, McLaurin's teammate since 2024, addressed the devastating injury after the game.

He said , "He's a brother to me. It sucks. You see how hard he works … Praying for Terry," Daniels said, noting that McLaurin has been right by his side through adversity, adding, "I love Terry and appreciate him a lot."

Head coach Dan Quinn addressed the injury postgame, noting that full scan results would provide clarity. "The concern is that it could be significant. We'll do the scans tomorrow and give you an update when I visit with you guys," Quinn said .

Former NFL team doctor David J. Chao reviewed video of the play. Though he has not examined McLaurin, Chao shared his concern on X, penning , "By video, worry for left patella tendon rupture. Leg just gives out. Horrible. Would mean surgery and season. Carted off with airsplint."

The team awaits Tuesday's scan results to determine the exact severity. To navigate McLaurin's absence, Stefon Diggs will step up to fill the primary WR1 role for Washington, while Dyami Brown and Luke McCaffrey are expected to see increased targets on the perimeter.

Losing McLaurin hurts the offense. The 31-year-old has 15 catches for 230 yards and a touchdown in five games this season and he already missed Week 4 with a hamstring injury. This scenario mirrors the team's brutal 2025 season, which fell apart after Daniels missed critical time with severe knee and hamstring issues while McLaurin was simultaneously sidelined by a major quad tear, ultimately forcing Washington into a disappointing 5-12 finish.