The Washington Commanders finally have some positive updates before their primetime matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. As the team prepares for the Monday night showdown against the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs, head Coach Dan Quinn confirmed that star wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Sr. have returned to practice — a major boost for a struggling offense that has lacked consistency in recent weeks.
Commanders’ Stars Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Return to Practice
Quinn addressed the media Thursday afternoon, sharing that McLaurin and Samuel were both back on the field. In a post on X by Commanders reporter Ben Standig, Quinn mentioned their return “amid sharing his approach for this week.” The NBC4 Sports team also shared footage of the two veterans running drills, captioning, “Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel Sr. return to practice.”
Their return comes at a critical time. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has been ruled out with a hamstring injury, meaning veteran Marcus Mariota will make his third start of the season. Having McLaurin and Samuel available would provide a significant upgrade to the receiving corps — and could help Mariota keep pace with Mahomes and the surging Chiefs offense.
McLaurin has been sidelined since suffering a leg injury during Washington’s win over the Las Vegas Raiders, while Samuel missed last week’s game with a bruised heel. Both players have been battling lingering issues that have slowed their recovery, but Thursday’s practice appearances are a strong sign they’re trending in the right direction.
The Commanders’ Offense Could Get Key Boost Against Chiefs
Washington’s passing game has struggled without its top weapons. In last week’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, Mariota was forced to rely on Chris Moore, Luke McCaffrey, Jaylin Lane, and recently signed Robbie Chose — a group that combined for fewer than 100 receiving yards.
The Chiefs’ defense presents one of the toughest challenges in the league. They rank fourth in pass defense, allowing just 174 yards per game through the air this season. Getting both McLaurin and Samuel back would dramatically change the dynamic of Washington’s offense, giving Mariota two proven playmakers who can stretch the field and open up space for running backs Brian Robinson Jr. and Antonio Gibson.
McLaurin’s chemistry with Mariota is already on display from earlier in the year — the duo connected on one of Washington’s longest completions of the season during Week 3. Samuel’s versatility, both as a receiver and in short-yardage situations, gives the Commanders an added dimension that has been missing in his absence.
Still, as Quinn noted, the team will monitor their status closely leading up to Monday night. “It’s great to see them out there,” Quinn said. “We’ll keep evaluating and make the best call for game time.”
Chiefs Continue to Surge Behind Patrick Mahomes’ Best Start in Years
The Commanders will be facing a Kansas City team that looks as sharp as ever. The Chiefs are putting up better offensive numbers than they did during multiple Super Bowl runs. Kansas City is scoring on 52.3% of its drives this season — a mark that surpasses 2022 (46%), 2023 (39%), and 2024 (43%), per Yahoo sports. It trails only the 2018 season, Mahomes’ first full year as a starter, when the Chiefs scored on 52.9% of their drives.
That dominance comes after an out-of-character rough start to the season, when several key receivers were sidelined. Since then, Mahomes has looked unstoppable. His decision-making has accelerated, as he’s making faster reads, quicker throws, and showing full trust in his offensive line despite injuries. The result? Just two interceptions through seven games and zero lost fumbles for the entire team.
Kansas City’s receivers have stabilized as well. Rashee Rice has emerged as a true No. 1 target in his return in Week 7, while Hollywood Brown and Xavier Worthy have thrived in complementary roles. Tight end Travis Kelce has also looked revitalized, reportedly dropping weight in the offseason and once again breaking tackles with ease.
The Commanders take on the Chiefs on Monday at 7:15 p.m. CT in Kansas City (8:15 p.m. ET, in the Washington D.C. area).
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Commanders Finally Get Some Good News Ahead of Their Showdown With the Surging Chiefs appeared first on Heavy Sports.