With Terry McLaurin Out, Commanders Depending on Antonio Williams

The Washington Commanders are working through one of the biggest injuries to the offense with Terry McLaurin sidelined for the remainder of the season. Now, offensive coordinator David Blough is tasked with adjusting the passing attack with all eyes on who will have to step up in the wide receiver room.

Yet with a need for others to step up, head coach Dan Quinn dismissed the idea that veteran wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who comfortably leads the team in both targets and catches, will see a change in his workload ahead of the primetime meeting against the Philadelphia Eagles. Instead, Quinn expects one of the new faces to step up: rookie Antonio Williams.

To many, it's deserved buzz with the rookie flashing at points in the preseason into the regular season, though he has also struggled with consistent production and targets. Williams has recorded at least three targets in all six games, yet drew more than five targets in a game just one. That came in the week four loss against the Indianapolis Colts when Williams notched 21 yards on three catches and eight targets. That also came after Williams loomed large in the final drive of the week one loss agains the Philadelphia Eagles given it was the rookie who punched in the final touchdown in his NFL debut that gave the Commanders a chance to tie the game in the final minute.

While general manager Adam Peters noted that Williams was capable of playing inside and out in the Commanders' offense once he arrived in the organization, how Washington opts to use Williams could also serve as an intriguing storyline for Sunday night as coordinator David Blough looks to scheme favorable matchups.

Quinn did point to Diggs as a go-to target on third downs with a chance for the two newest pieces to the room to now spearhead the rotation against an Eagles' secondary that allows nearly 240 passing yards per game, 14 yards fewer than the Commanders' secondary so far in 2026.

Still, after watching one of franchise's most important players go down with questions about what McLaurin's future beyond 2026 looks like, the second half of the season will now give the Commanders a chance to evaluate the wide receiver who can step into a fixture in the wide receiver room for years to come.

Kickoff for Sunday night is set for 8:20 PM ET with the Commanders looking to avenge the week one loss against Philadelphia. This also marks the first of two primetime games in as many weeks on Washington's schedule.