After Week 2, Washington Commanders receiver Terry McLaurin had eight catches for 39 yards, and it appeared that he and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels weren't on the same page.
Since then, McLaurin has become Daniels' favorite target and has resumed his role as the team's dominant receiver — just as he was the previous five seasons.
McLaurin, a third-round pick out of Ohio State in 2019, made an immediate impact as a rookie, collecting 919 yards and seven touchdown catches.
Every season since that outstanding rookie year, McLaurin has eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving. This season, he's on a pace for 1,101 yards.
After his struggles through two weeks, a reporter asked McLaurin about his lack of production and whether he had any ill will toward his rookie quarterback.
"I know that they want to give me the football, and in different ways," he said, per WUSA9. "We're just trying to progress the offense as a whole. Obviously, with Jayden being a first-time quarterback, it takes time to progress as well, but I think he's doing a really good job, and it's just a matter of continuing to put the pieces together and just getting opportunities to make plays down the field."
Since uplifting his young quarterback instead of complaining, as we have seen from other NFL players, McLaurin and Daniels have found their stride. The two have connected on four TD passes.
McLaurin has worked his way up to 12th in the NFL in receptions (35), 12th in receiving yards (454) and eighth in touchdown catches (four)
McLaurin is no stranger to getting used to new quarterbacks, as he has caught a pass from 12 different quarterbacks since he entered the league. Nine of those 12 have started at least one game for Washington, and that number could increase to 10 if Marcus Mariota gets the start Sunday at home against Chicago if Daniels misses the game because of a rib injury.
Continuous production, regardless of the quarterback, has made McLaurin one of the more admirable receivers in the league. If he stays in a groove with Daniels, perhaps he'll top his career high in receiving yardage (1,191), set in 2022.
