Washington Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said the Terry McLaurin standoff needs to be resolved in the next three weeks in order for the offense to jell.
The 29-year-old wideout, who’s entering the final season of a three-year deal he signed in 2022, requested a trade on July 31 after both sides couldn’t agree on a contract extension for quarterback Jayden Daniels’ No. 1 target.
During a Friday press conference, a reporter asked Kingsbury about how much “classroom” work he’s had with McLaurin amid his availability, or lack thereof.
“Not as much as we would if he was full go, there’s no doubt,” Kingsbury said. “But I think, I’m huge on walk-thrus, on practice and things like that, because until you get on the grass and actually do it, feel the timing and the depths and routes and things of that nature. I don’t know exactly how much you can get out of that.
“So I think we’re kind of at that point to where we need to start getting those guys, when they’re available, out there and jelling to see where we are as an offense.”
Kingsbury explained that it’s impossible to see the offense come together without Washington’s top players on the field.
“I think that’s a work in progress, there’s no doubt — until we get some of these pieces back, we’re not gonna know exactly what we are,” he said. “We’ve had some good opportunities to see guys get work in these positions, but when you don’t have your projected top two outside receivers… it’s not going to really give you the chance to gel or really build that relationship until you get everybody else on the grass. That is something we have to get to over the next three weeks.”
Prior to his trade request, McLaurin was placed on the physically unable to perform list with an ankle injury.
Kingsbury said he’s been working with the trainers around the Commanders’ facility and emphasized the need for McLaurin to get contact work on the grass.
“I think that’s one of those deals where it’s just time on task and luckily what they had last year to build a lot of rapport and chemistry,” Kingsbury said. “Terry understands our system going into it year two, so that should expedite the process but to me, it’s time on task together on the grass is really the only way that you can continue to build.”
Commanders general manager Adam Peters said last month, “Whatever happens along the way, just understand he’s a great player and we want to keep him here.”
McLaurin finished with a career-best 13 touchdowns in 2024, including 10 in the red zone.
The Commanders play the Bengals on Aug. 18 before closing out the preseason against the Ravens on Aug. 23.
They open the 2025 campaign at home against the Giants on Sept. 7.