NFL Insider’s latest injury update hints the Bears could dodge a bullet that would help pull of a win in rematch vs. Commanders

It’s not looking good for Terry McLaurin’s chances of playing on Monday.

Kole Noble — Chicago Bears News Writer
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Oct 27, 2024; Landover, Maryland, USA; Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (17) runs with the ball past Chicago Bears cornerback Jaylon Johnson (1) during the third quarter at Northwest Stadium.
Terry McLaurin (17) runs with the ball past Jaylon Johnson (1) during the third quarter at Northwest Stadium. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The Monday Night Football matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Washington Commanders is going to be a big one to close out Week 6.

Not only is it a matchup between the top two quarterbacks from the 2024 NFL Draft in Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels, it’s also a rematch from last year’s walk-off Hail Mary game in Week 8.

A lot will be on the line in this game. The Bears, sitting at 2-2, are looking to come back from the extended by week and break another trend (losing after the bye week) under head coach Ben Johnson. Meanwhile, the Commanders are 3-2 after getting Daniels back from injury last week.

However, one big injury going into this matchup could swing things in Chicago’s favor just a little bit.

“For the Washington Commanders, it does not seem like they will have the services of one of their top receivers. Terry McLaurin, who’s been battling a hip-flexor injury, he was not at practice (on Wednesday) for the Commanders,” NFL Insider Ian Rapoport reported. “You’d think, that to be able to play in the game, he’d have to have a full practice, has not even had a limited practice yet since his injury. Not looking good the Monday nighter against the Bears.”

During Thursday’s practice, McLaurin was spotted out on the field according to reporters but was working off to the side of the practice field and was not wearing pads. Saying this continues into the weekend, McLaurin’s status for Monday night would be in jeopardy.

That’s obviously good news for the Bears in this matchup. While Deebo Samuel technically leads the Commanders in receiving this year, McLaurin is easily the team’s top threat in the passing game and the Bears have already been without top cornerback Jaylon Johnson for the majority of the season.

The last time these two teams faced off in 2024, McLaurin totaled 125 yards on five receptions against the Bears. If he were to go, McLaurin would be lining up against cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, who infamously surrendered the Hail Mary touchdown to lose the game but has since grown immensely on the field and mentally stepping into the role as the top outside cornerback for Chicago.

Even without McLaurin, the Bears are still in for a major test against the Commanders’ run game. Washington enters Week 6 ranked first in the NFL averaging 156.4 yards per game while Chicago has allowed 164.5 rushing yards per game, the most in the NFL.

“They do a phenomenal job. Give Coach (Kliff) Kingsbury and Anthony Lynn, their run game coordinator, a ton of credit,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson explained. “There’s something new every week schematically, they put a lot of stress on the defense… It’s a handful. You have to be very disciplined. I mean there’s a reason why for two years now that they’ve been running all over people.”

Without McLaurin, the Bears could certainly shift all of the efforts defensively into stopping the run on Monday night. So, his status going into the weekend will be a big story to watch.

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