ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders’ offense hasn’t appeared sharp for a lot of the summer season, however offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury is aware of why: Too many gamers are lacking, beginning with huge receiver Terry McLaurin.
With the season starting in three weeks, they want the work.
“There hasn’t been a ton of contact with him,” Kingsbury mentioned of McLaurin on Friday. “He is been right here, however he is been working with trainers, so till he will get again on the grass, that is after we’ll begin constructing that again up.”
McLaurin, who’s in search of a contract extension, is one in every of 4 key offensive gamers for the Commanders who has missed substantial time this summer season. It is led to much less success than in camp final season. Others are getting alternatives to show what they will do, however Kingsbury desires to know what the beginning group can do collectively.
“That is a piece in progress,” Kingsbury mentioned of the offense. “Till we get a few of these different items again, we’re not going to know precisely what we’re. … That is one thing we’ve got to get to over the subsequent three weeks.”
Washington’s offense ranked fifth in factors and seventh in yards final season and have the reigning offensive rookie of the 12 months in quarterback Jayden Daniels. The Commanders traded for huge receiver Deebo Samuel and left sort out Laremy Tunsil and drafted sort out Josh Conerly Jr. within the first spherical.
However that has not equated to an offense in sync this summer season. McLaurin missed the primary 4 days whereas holding out and was positioned on the bodily unable to carry out listing when he reported. Beginning proper guard Sam Cosmi is recovering from a torn ACL; beginning left guard Brandon Coleman hobbled off the sphere Aug. 2 and hasn’t practiced since.
Additionally, huge receiver Noah Brown has missed substantial observe time this summer season whereas recovering from a knee damage suffered within the spring.
“You do not have [the] projected high two exterior receivers and each your projected inside items at guard,” Kingsbury mentioned. “It is not going to actually provide the probability to jell or actually construct that relationship till you get everyone else on the grass.”
The important thing relationship begins with Daniels and McLaurin, who caught a career-best 13 touchdowns final season — 12 from Daniels, who threw 25 total. McLaurin ranked second within the NFL in landing receptions total and within the pink zone with 10. Daniels had an ideal Whole QBR of 100 when focusing on McLaurin within the pink zone and 90.6 total.
However Kingsbury is not centered on final 12 months’s success, and he values on-field work greater than sitting in a classroom.
“It is simply time on process, and fortunately that they had final 12 months to construct lots of rapport and chemistry and Terry understands our system going into Yr 2, so that ought to expedite the method,” Kingsbury mentioned. “However to me, time on process collectively on the grass is absolutely the one means which you could proceed to construct.”
