Terry McLaurin Had Just 14 Yards On Four Targets In Season Debut
Terry McLaurin spent most of Sunday invisible, not because he wasn't open but because the Philadelphia Eagles made sure he wasn't.
Philadelphia's defense deployed cloud coverage with safety help over McLaurin for most of the game, forcing Jayden Daniels to go elsewhere. He did not catch a single pass until fewer than five minutes remained in the contest.
He finished with two catches on four targets for 14 yards. Offensive coordinator David Blough had said before the season he wanted McLaurin to see 10 targets per game. He saw four. Rookie Antonio Williams outperformed him with four catches, 64 yards and a touchdown in his first career NFL game.
The silver lining buried inside the frustrating box score: McLaurin's second catch of the day was his 500th career reception, making him the fifth player in Washington franchise history to reach that milestone, joining Art Monk, Charley Taylor, Santana Moss and Gary Clark.
He is 30 years old and still the best receiver on the roster. The Eagles were not going to let him beat them in Week 1. The Commanders travel to Dallas in Week 2, where the Cowboys' secondary is considerably less formidable. McLaurin will be heard from.
