The Washington Commanders, as they have been for many years, have been a mediocre team this season, as they hold a 4-5 record and sit in last place in the NFC East by a mile.
They have such an anemic record partly because they hold one of the NFL’s most anemic offenses, as quarterback Carson Wentz is having an underwhelming year.
But one man has been a consistent performer for Washington, and that man is wide receiver Terry McLaurin.
According to Pro Football Focus, he has been the best wideout in the league when it comes to producing on contested catches.
Terry McLaurin on contested targets since 2020:
🪖 32 catches (T-1st)
🪖 565 yards (1st)
🪖 16 catches gaining 15+ yards (1st) pic.twitter.com/p6MR5FAvJi— PFF (@PFF) November 4, 2022
Through nine games this season, he has registered 609 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
McLaurin Has Been The Commanders’ Only Potent Weapon
McLaurin, who stands six feet tall and weighs 210 pounds, was not highly regarded after his four seasons of college ball at Ohio State University.
In 44 games with the Buckeyes, he totaled only 1,251 yards and 19 touchdowns, and most pro scouts figured he would be buried on the depth chart in the NFL or even relegated to special teams.
The then-Redskins took McLaurin in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft, and he did well enough in training camp that head coach Jay Gruden put him in the starting lineup.
He put up 919 yards and seven touchdowns as a rookie, and in each of the next two seasons, he surpassed the 1,000-yard mark.
On Sunday, the Commanders lost 20-17 to the Minnesota Vikings despite building a 17-7 lead early in the fourth quarter.
McLaurin helped his team’s cause with 56 yards on five catches.
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