Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin tore the patellar tendon in his left knee and will miss the rest of the season, coach Dan Quinn said Tuesday.

McLaurin, 31, was hurt late in the first quarter of Monday night's 23-17 loss at San Francisco, ESPN reported. He was injured while cutting on a route, on a play that ended with a sack of quarterback Jayden Daniels. Sports Illustrated reported that he was carted off the field after the non-contact injury.

"He'll get surgery, and he's going to miss the rest of the season," Quinn said, according to Sports Illustrated. "Man, I'm gutted for him as a captain and one of our real leaders."

McLaurin led Washington with 230 receiving yards on 15 catches this season, ESPN reported. He had five straight 1,000-yard seasons from 2020 to 2024 and was named a team captain this year. He joined the team as a third-round draft pick in 2019 and played with 13 different starting quarterbacks before Daniels arrived in 2024, according to ESPN.

The injury also raises questions about his future in Washington. ESPN reported that his contract lets the team release him after the season or rework the deal. Releasing him would save about $8.5 million against next year's salary cap, the network said.

Sports Illustrated pointed to a 2025 study in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine on NFL players with these tears. Of 45 players, 26 returned to play at least one game, and the median return time was about 11.4 months. That would put a return around early October 2027, though no timeline has been set for McLaurin, the magazine said.

ESPN named Treylon Burks, Dyami Brown and rookie Antonio Williams among the receivers who could fill in. Sports Illustrated said the team will need more from Stefon Diggs. NewsHabit covered Monday's game on Tuesday.

What we know: McLaurin will have surgery and miss the rest of the season.
What we don't: When he could return, and whether Washington will keep him next season.