Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin will miss the remainder of the 2026 NFL season after suffering a torn patellar tendon in his left knee during Monday night’s 23-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed the injury on Tuesday and said McLaurin will require surgery.

McLaurin sustained the injury in the first quarter while running a route. His knee buckled, and he was removed from the game with his left leg placed in an air cast. Quinn described McLaurin as a key leader and captain whose absence will be deeply felt by the team.

This marks the most severe injury of McLaurin’s career and his fourth significant setback over the past two seasons. In 2025, he suffered a quad injury and later re-injured the same muscle, causing him to miss seven games. Earlier this season, McLaurin missed a game due to a hamstring injury sustained in practice.

Quinn acknowledged McLaurin’s contributions both on and off the field, emphasizing the wide receiver’s impact since training camp. “We do have a deep crew at that position, and we’ll lean in on a number of the guys to fill some of the unique roles that Terry does,” the coach said.

With two years remaining on his contract and no guaranteed money left, McLaurin’s future with the Commanders is uncertain. His cap hit for the 2027 season is projected to be $34 million, according to Over the Cap, a figure that could pose financial challenges for Washington. The team’s options include restructuring his contract, negotiating an extension, or potentially moving on, though any decisions will likely wait until the offseason.

In other team injury news, Coach Quinn did not have updates on defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw or wide receiver Treylon Burks as of Tuesday.