The Washington Commanders are running out of healthy wide receivers heading into their Week 7 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys. The team will be without Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel, their two top receivers, and Noah Brown remains on injured reserve.
Commanders Thin at Wide Receiver Ahead of Cowboys Game
That leaves just four active receivers on the roster — Luke McCaffrey, Chris Moore, Jaylin Lane, and Robbie Chosen. It’s far from an ideal situation as the Commanders try to stay in the NFC East race.
McLaurin has missed three straight games with a quad injury, and Samuel is still dealing with a bruised heel that limited him against the Chicago Bears in Week 6. Brown hasn’t played since Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers, and after weeks of uncertainty, the Commanders finally placed him on injured reserve.
The injuries have forced general manager Adam Peters to search for quick fixes, and this week he found one in former first-round pick Treylon Burks. Washington signed Burks to the practice squad after bringing him in for a visit.
Burks was drafted No. 18 overall by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 as a potential replacement for A.J. Brown. But injuries and inconsistent play limited his production, and the Titans moved on earlier this season. Washington’s decision to sign him is a low-risk move meant to add depth to an offense that’s running out of options.
Washington Insider Thinks the Move Sends a Message
While signing Burks gives the Commanders another body at wide receiver, one insider believes it could also be a sign that things aren’t improving with McLaurin or Samuel. NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay said the timing of the move may indicate more bad news for the team’s injured stars.
“I like the Burks signing. Super low risk and maybe pays off,” Finlay wrote on X. “But also pretty clear not much great news imminent with the current hurt WRs (McLaurin, Deebo).”
The Commanders now have five wide receivers on the practice squad — an unusually high number — which shows how much the front office is bracing for potential long-term absences.
Head coach Dan Quinn didn’t give a firm update on McLaurin or Samuel this week but said the team would “see where things stand after the bye.” Washington’s next game after Dallas will be on Monday Night Football against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8, giving the injured players a little extra time to heal.
“We’ve had injuries all year, but that’s part of the game,” Quinn said Friday. “We’ll roll with the guys who are ready. It’s a good chance for some of our younger receivers to show what they can do.”
The Commanders enter Week 7 at 3-3 and face a critical divisional matchup against the Cowboys, who sit just behind them in the standings. With so many receivers out, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels will likely rely more on short passes, tight end Zach Ertz, and the running game to keep the offense moving.
As Quinn summed up, “You never want to lose guys like Terry or Deebo, but we trust the next man up. That’s how this team has to operate.”
Commanders Insider Makes Feelings Clear on What Treylon Burks Signing Really Means