A classic No. 1 receiver, Terry McLaurin isn’t accustomed to invisible performances for the Washington Commanders. This is a man who makes circus catches look routine and who has been one of Sam Howell’s top safety valves in 2023 — despite the quarterback’s up-and-down play.
That’s what might make McLaurin’s no-show against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday so jarring. The 28-year-old saw just three targets against the Dolphins’ playmaking defense. He caught none of them and was otherwise a complete non-factor in a 45-15 blowout loss. When it came time to sum up his performance in the post-game locker room, McLaurin equated his zero-catch game to running “cardio.”
Woof. That’s the last thing you want to hear from a receiver, especially when they say it about themselves:
Terry McLaurin didn't have a single catch today vs. the Dolphins.
He was asked about that after the game.
Terry said, "I ran a lot of cardio…I'm going to continue to run my routes hard. At the end of the day, I'm not going to quit, but yeah it's frustrating." pic.twitter.com/IEW07NkyHw
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) December 3, 2023
Terry McLaurin after no catches – “I ran a lot of cardio today.”
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 3, 2023
For what it’s worth, Howell did feel guilty he couldn’t get the ball to McLaurin:
Sam Howell on Terry McLaurin not getting any catches: “I got to get him the football…3 targets is not enough for your best player…It’s never the plan”
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) December 3, 2023
Well, here’s the silver lining for McLaurin: taking care of your heart with cardiovascular exercise is a good thing! I’m sure he would’ve liked to throw in a touchdown and 100 yards or so into the mix, but that’s not a bad consolation prize. Right? Right???