Washington Redskins wide receiver Terry McLaurin (concussion) has been ruled out for Sunday's regular season finale in Dallas, interim head coach Bill Callahan announced Friday.
McLaurin entered concussion protocol following the Redskins' overtime loss to the Giants on Dec. 22 and has not practiced since. Friday's news means that McLaurin's historic rookie campaign is over.
"I can't say enough about how he's handled himself as a young rookie in our league," Callahan said about McLaurin on Dec. 18. "It's hard competitively to go out and face some of the best corners and to get separation from [Patriots cornerback] Stephon Gilmore from New England and make plays on deep balls, intermediate throws. I mean he's challenged in every area and he's come up big. The game's not too big for him. He's been under the bright lights before and he has been a leader, he understands the whole package."
McLaurin has wowed coaches and teammates from the moment the Redskins selected him in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. He emerged as an immediate offensive contributor during offseason workouts and then earned a starting spot in training camp this summer.
And since the regular season opener in Philadelphia -- when he caught five passes for 125 yards and a touchdown -- McLaurin has been the go-to receiver regardless of who played quarterback.
McLaurin became the first player in NFL history with at least five receptions and a receiving touchdown in each of the his first three games. Two weeks later, he eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the second time and found the end zone twice in the Redskins' first victory of the year in Miami.
"Coming from Ohio State, I've never really felt that I've been too big for the moment, but at the same time I've had the humble mentality to keep working and never feel like I've arrived," McLaurin said. "I feel like that's helped me continue to progress, I'm very open to criticism from my teammates and my coaches, and I feel like that's how you continue to get better in this league. You never feel like you've arrived; you always feel like you can get better at something, so I'm going to continue to do that."
In just 14 games played, McLaurin has put together one of the best receiving seasons by a rookie in Redskins history. He'll finish the year second behind Gary Clark with 919 receiving yards, second behind Charlie Taylor with seven touchdowns and tied for third with 58 receptions. Furthermore, he's tied for first among rookies in 100-yard receiving games (three) and receptions of at least 25 yards (nine).
Among NFL rookies this season, McLaurin currently ranks first in catches, second in yards and tied for second in touchdowns.
"He's got the 'it' factor, as far as I'm concerned," Callahan said. "I wish him the best as he moves along as a pro and hope he can sustain that success. I think he will, and he'll be one of the better and greater receivers in our league for years to come."
