ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders’ wide receiver room took another unfortunate hit this week, as veteran pass-catcher Noah Brown was officially placed on injured reserve. The decision comes four games after Brown first suffered a groin injury in the Week 2 loss to the Green Bay Packers — an injury that has lingered longer than the team initially expected.
The Commanders had hoped to see Brown return to action last week after he practiced on a limited basis for two straight days. However, those hopes quickly faded when he was unable to participate in Saturday’s session ahead of Monday night’s clash with the Chicago Bears. With his recovery stalling, head coach Dan Quinn and the medical staff agreed that shutting him down temporarily was the best course of action.
“It wasn’t a setback,” Quinn clarified. “It just didn’t respond quite the way it needed to. Hindsight is 20-20, but the main thing is to get him right.”
By placing Brown on injured reserve, the Commanders will be without him for at least the next four games — a tough blow for an offense that has already been trying to regain rhythm amid multiple injuries at the wide receiver position.
Brown’s absence is particularly frustrating because Washington initially decided not to put him on IR earlier in the season. The belief then was that he would recover within the four-week window, making the move unnecessary. Unfortunately, the injury proved trickier than expected.
Before the setback, Brown had managed three receptions for 36 yards across the first two games. Last season, he was a productive complementary target, catching 35 passes for 453 yards and one touchdown in 11 appearances. Perhaps more impressively, Brown drew six defensive pass interference penalties in 2024 — the second-highest total in the entire NFL — underscoring his ability to stretch defenses and force mistakes from opposing secondaries.
The Commanders had envisioned Brown as a physical, experienced option who could help take pressure off star receiver Terry McLaurin and second-year talent Jahan Dotson. But McLaurin himself has been sidelined for the past three games due to a right quad injury. The good news for Washington fans is that there’s finally some optimism surrounding McLaurin’s return.
Quinn confirmed that McLaurin will take part in Wednesday’s light jog-through practice session and could be on track to suit up for Sunday’s matchup against his hometown Dallas Cowboys. “We’ll have a better assessment later in the week,” Quinn noted, “but it’s trending in a positive direction.”
In a potential roster move to reinforce the receiving corps, sources say former Tennessee Titans wideout Treylon Burks visited Washington on Tuesday. Burks, a 2022 first-round draft pick, was released by Tennessee on October 7 after an injury-plagued run that included a fractured collarbone in July and a torn ACL in 2024. While no official deal has been announced, Burks’ visit signals that the Commanders are exploring options to bolster their depth.
For now, Quinn and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy will have to get creative with their personnel. Young receivers and practice-squad call-ups may see expanded roles, while the team leans more heavily on its tight ends and running backs in the passing game.
Injuries have undeniably tested Washington’s resilience early this season. Yet, as Quinn emphasized, the focus remains steady: “The main thing is to get our guys healthy and ready for the long haul.”
At 2–3, the Commanders are still within striking distance in the NFC East — but they’ll need their playmakers back soon if they hope to keep pace in one of football’s toughest divisions.
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