The Washington Commanders are running low on 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, while Noah Brown remains on injured reserve.
### Commanders Thin at Wide Receiver Ahead of Cowboys Game
This 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 competitive in the NFC East race.
McLaurin has missed three straight games due to a quad injury, and Samuel is still dealing with a bruised heel that limited his performance 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 mounting injuries have forced General Manager Adam Peters to look for quick solutions, 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.
### Adding Depth: The Treylon Burks Signing
Burks was drafted No. 18 overall by the Tennessee Titans in 2022 as a potential replacement for A.J. Brown. However, injuries and inconsistent play limited his production, leading the Titans to move on earlier this season. Washington’s decision to sign him is a low-risk move aimed at adding depth to an offense that is rapidly running out of options.
### Washington Insider Reacts
While signing Burks gives the Commanders another body at wide receiver, one insider believes it could also signal that the health outlook for McLaurin and Samuel is not improving soon. NBC Sports Washington’s JP Finlay shared his thoughts on X, saying:
> “I like the Burks signing. Super low risk and maybe pays off. But also pretty clear not much great news imminent with the current hurt WRs (McLaurin, Deebo).”
Currently, the Commanders have five wide receivers on the practice squad—an unusually high number—which highlights how much the front office is bracing for potential long-term absences.
### What’s Next for the Commanders?
Head coach Dan Quinn didn’t provide 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 following the Dallas matchup is a Monday Night Football showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 8, giving the injured players a little extra time to recover.
“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.”
### Outlook for Week 7
The Commanders enter Week 7 with a 3-3 record and face a crucial divisional game 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 Coach Quinn summed it 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.”
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