Commanders missing two key offensive pieces for Week 7 Cowboys matchup

The Washington Commanders will hope to get back to winning ways against the Dallas Cowboys this weekend but coach Dan Quinn will be without two top receivers.

On Saturday WR Deebo Samuel was downgraded to Out on the Commanders’ injury report, confirming that he will play no part against the Cowboys. He has not practiced all week due to a heel injury and will not make it back for the game.

Samuel’s absence compounds the loss of Terry McClaurin, who is set to miss a fourth consecutive game for Washington. He is still recovering from a quad injury and will not feature, despite returning to practice as a limited participant on Wednesday.

“It’s frustrating for him because he’s working at it hard,” Quinn said of McClaurin on Friday. “With an injury like this, this is a speed player, so on movements where you’re jogging or not fully there, it’s just not ready yet… He’s working at it hard. He’s frustrated. But we’re closer.

“As we’ve been going week to week, it can be difficult on an injury that you have to test and push at high speed, and you need volume at it, you need reps at it. It’s good to see him running routes and doing that but once we kinda got to that space, we’re just not all the way there yet.”

Samuel joined the Commanders back in March after being traded from the San Francisco 49ers. He had been an important player at times for San Francisco, racking up a career-high 1,405 receiving yards in 2021.

Since moving to Washington he has been called upon to fill in for the injured McLaurin and has responded with some big performances. Samuel leads the team with 34 catches in 2025 and has totaled at least 70 receiving yards in three separate games for the Commanders.

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