Terry McLaurin is officially inactive for the Washington Commanders’ Week 4 game against the Indianapolis Colts in London due to a hamstring injury, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The veteran wide receiver will miss the October 4, 2026, matchup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, compounding an already depleted Commanders offense that is also without quarterback Jayden Daniels.
The game kicks off at 9:30 a.m. ET (2:30 p.m. BST) and airs on NFL Network. Both the Commanders and Colts enter at 1-2 after each secured its first win of the season last week.
Terry McLaurin Injury Timeline and Status
McLaurin appeared on the Commanders’ injury report Friday after suffering a hamstring injury in practice and was limited that day. He was listed as questionable heading into the London trip, with early reports indicating the team hoped he could play through it. By Saturday, multiple sources, including Commanders reporter Ben Standig, indicated he was likely to sit. Schefter’s report confirmed the official inactive designation roughly 90 minutes before kickoff.
Hamstring injuries are particularly limiting for wide receivers because they affect acceleration, route running, and change of direction. McLaurin has a prior history with the issue, having been questionable with hamstring problems in 2019 and 2021. In 2025, a quad injury limited him to 10 games and ended a multi-year streak of full availability.
2026 Season Stats and Role
Through three games, McLaurin has 10 receptions for 141 yards and one touchdown on 22 targets. He posted a season-high six catches for 77 yards and a score in the Commanders’ Week 3 win over the Seattle Seahawks. At age 31 and in his eighth season, the former Ohio State standout and third-round pick remains Washington’s primary deep threat and a team captain, even after the offseason addition of Stefon Diggs.
Impact on the Commanders Offense
With Jayden Daniels ruled out for a second straight game due to a dislocated elbow suffered in Week 2, Marcus Mariota makes another start. Losing McLaurin removes the offense’s most established vertical option for an international road game. Diggs is positioned to handle the bulk of the targets, with Dyami Brown, Antonio Williams, and Treylon Burks also expected to see expanded roles. Other Commanders inactives include offensive guard Sam Cosmi, safety Nick Cross, and running back Rachaad White.
The absence raises the degree of difficulty for an offense already operating without its starting quarterback against a Colts defense that has allowed significant production through the air early in the season. Fantasy managers who roster McLaurin will need alternatives, while Diggs and Williams become higher-upside options in this specific matchup.
Looking Ahead
No timetable has been given for McLaurin’s return beyond the immediate inactive designation. The Commanders will monitor the hamstring through the short week following the London game as they aim to avoid a slide to 1-3. McLaurin’s durability has been a question mark since the 2025 quad issues, making this the latest test of how the team manages his workload.