Terry McLaurin tears his patellar tendon and is out for the season

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin tore his patellar tendon in Monday night's loss at San Francisco and will miss the rest of the season, head coach Dan Quinn said Tuesday afternoon, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

What is confirmed

The MRI came back Tuesday and showed the tear, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport posted at about 3:03 PM ET. ESPN's Jeremy Fowler also posted that McLaurin's season is over. Quinn's comments make it official from the team side.

McLaurin went down late in the first quarter Monday when his left leg buckled on a cut near the Washington sideline. He left on a cart with an air cast on the leg and was ruled out for the night. He had caught a 27-yard pass on the opening drive, and he came into the game with 15 catches and a team-high 230 receiving yards.

What is not settled yet

Washington has not announced an injured reserve move, though one should follow soon. The team also has not said whether it will add a receiver. A patellar tendon tear is a long recovery, and McLaurin is 31, so his timeline for 2027 is an open question until the team shares surgery details.

What RSO owners should do now

Move McLaurin to an IR slot as soon as Washington places him on injured reserve, if your league allows it. Do not count on him for any 2026 lineup.

In contract leagues, his salary still counts against your cap while he sits. If you are contending, decide now whether that money is better spent elsewhere this season. If you are rebuilding, holding him into the offseason is reasonable, but price his deal knowing he will be coming off a major knee repair at 32.

Stefon Diggs becomes Washington's top veteran receiver and should see a steady target bump. Check your waiver wire for the Commanders receivers behind him, since someone has to absorb McLaurin's routes.

What to watch next

Watch for the IR placement, any receiver signing or trade before the deadline, and how Washington splits targets behind Diggs in Week 8. Any surgery update will also shape his 2027 value.