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Commanders star Terry McLaurin carted off after knee injury early in matchup vs. 49ers

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin was carted off the field with a left knee injury during Monday night’s contest against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara. The injury occurred in the first quarter when McLaurin’s left leg buckled hard under pressure.

He was seen hopping into the medical cart on his own, with his left leg encased in an air cast.

The specific play that led to the injury was a third-down attempt with 2:16 remaining in the first half. 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir was tightly covering McLaurin when the wide receiver’s left knee gave out.

Commanders medical staff immediately attended to McLaurin, placing a vacuum splint on his leg before assisting him onto the cart. Players from both teams gathered around to wish McLaurin well as he left the field.

McLaurin’s departure represents a significant loss for Washington, which entered the game managing a substantial injury list. The Commanders listed 13 players on their final injury report for the Monday Night Football matchup, with four of those players ruled out entirely.

In a separate incident during the game, Commanders wide receiver Stefon Diggs sustained a potential hand injury. Diggs took an illegal hit from 49ers safety Malik Mustapha that was not penalized by the officials.

During the contact, Diggs’ right hand struck Mustapha’s helmet, and he appeared to injure his ring finger. Despite the apparent injury, Diggs received treatment and has returned to the game.

The Commanders face a challenging situation with their roster depth as they continue their season. The absence of McLaurin, a key target in the passing game, leaves Washington with fewer options in the air against the 49ers’ defense.

The team must now rely on the remaining healthy players to maintain offensive production in a high-stakes matchup.

This report also draws on coverage from Pro Football Talk, 49ers Webzone, New York Post.

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