The Washington Commanders looked like they could potentially be one of the NFL’s more explosive offenses after two weeks. Quarterback Carson Wentz passed for 650 yards and seven touchdowns and appeared to have found new life with his third team in three years.
Then, reality struck Sunday as Wentz faced his former team and was sacked nine times in a 24-8 loss to the Eagles.
As ugly of an offensive performance as it was for Washington, there was some good news in the form of wide receiver Terry McLaurin. In the first two games, McLaurin caught six passes for 133 yards and one touchdown.
In Sunday’s loss to Philadelphia, McLaurin caught six passes for 102 yards, including hauling in a 45-yard reception in the second half on Wentz’s best throw of the day.
👻 👻 👻 👻 👻 👻 👻 👻 👻 👻 👻 👻
📺 #PHIvsWAS FOX pic.twitter.com/slWsyykVk0
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) September 25, 2022
In the first half, McLaurin didn’t have a catch. Washington’s passing game was a nightmare with -16 net yards passing after six first-half sacks. The theme of the first three games has been Wentz looking for Jahan Dotson and Curtis Samuel earlier in the games, with McLaurin becoming more involved in the second half.
Wentz and offensive coordinator Scott Turner must do a better job of scheming touches for McLaurin. It opens things up for Dotson, Samuel and others when McLaurin is involved early.
McLaurin’s big game is especially notable for fantasy football. Wentz developed a rapport with Dotson early in the offseason as McLaurin missed OTAs and minicamp. So the two didn’t have the entire offseason to work together. Perhaps McLaurin’s nine targets are a sign of things to come for Washington’s No. 1 wideout.
McLaurin’s targets have increased each week. In Week 1, McLaurin finished with four targets, following eight and nine in the following two weeks. The uptick in targets is a positive sign of Wentz’s growing comfort with McLaurin.
