The Green Bay Packers won't trade for Terry McLaurin, but his ever-worsening saga with the Washington Commanders may directly impact Matt LaFleur's team.
McLaurin has held out all summer in hopes of landing a new contract. After that failed, he handed in a trade request. Not only is a resolution seemingly still nowhere in sight, but a new update signals an even deeper rift than it initially seemed.
It will have the Packers' attention. In just 34 days, Green Bay will host Washington in a huge NFC battle on Thursday Night Football. As the days tick by, the chances of the Commanders having McLaurin on the field for that game decrease dramatically.
Terry McLaurin's holdout could extend to the regular season, and it will have Packers' attention
McLaurin has done everything he can to land the new deal he wants. It seemed that his trade request was the final swing of the bat to push an extension over the line. But maybe not. According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, this might be far from over.
"In this case, I do think the relationship has been fractured some," Fowler told Rio Robinson of the Rambling with Rio podcast. "It does appear he's done all he can. The next step would be to totally withhold services on game checks, and that's a big step. Maybe Washington would put him on some sort of reserve list and let him collect his paycheck while he sits, but that's a whole different conversation."
The longer it goes, the less likely he is to play against the Packers. Even if McLaurin gets a new deal relatively soon, he would still have fewer practice reps to get up to full speed.
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It's something to watch.
The Packers open the season with a brutal stretch against the Detroit Lions and Commanders, teams that combined for 27 wins before clashing in the playoffs last year. McLaurin played a starring role for Washington, catching 82 passes for 1,096 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season before adding 227 yards and three scores in the playoffs.
McLaurin has found success against Green Bay's defense in his career, making 16 receptions for 252 yards and three touchdowns in only three games.
The Packers have the advantage of playing at home on a short week, although they'll only be four days removed from a physical battle against the Lions. McLaurin can change a game and punish any defense.
If he's unavailable, the pendulum could swing firmly in the Packers' favor. His camp holdout initially felt like a quick drama that would resolve with a new contract.
Yet here we are, and the continued saga is becoming very relevant for the Packers.