Commanders receive good and bad news for Week 13 vs. Broncos

For a while, it looked like the Washington Commanders would have their projected top three wide receivers on the field for the first time since Week 2 on Sunday against the Denver Broncos. Most importantly, Terry McLaurin will return against the Broncos, but Noah Brown's return will have to wait a week.

Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed McLaurin's return on Friday, but said Brown will not play. Also out for Washington is defensive end Drake Jackson. Brown, Jackson, and safety Will Harris have recently had their 21-day window opened for players returning from injured reserve. Jackson, a former second-round pick of the 49ers, was signed last month and immediately placed on IR. He suffered a major knee injury in 2023. Harris is questionable for Sunday, but all signs point to him playing.

As for Brown, he practiced all week, but neither he nor McLaurin practiced on Friday, in what was called a rest day.

Quinn discussed Brown's situation on Friday.

"There's definitely been some dark moments, and this is a guy who's dealt with a lot in terms of the injury part of things and battled back through things," Quinn said.

"He is really a resilient person. So, he's had unusual injuries, you know, even in his past. But it's nice knowing that the light at the end of the tunnel is clearer now. When you're really far away, it's harder. And so, to see him, you know, really, you know, putting in the work at practice, you know, he's definitely very close. So that's a good sign. The frustration's still there, but not maybe the darkness and the anger and, you know, that goes with when you have an injury and then re-injure it. You know, like those are things that like, ugh. And so, to see him knowing that he's closer, that's a big deal for us. He's one of our very best competitors."

Brown hasn't played since Week 2, when he suffered knee/groin injuries. Brown missed some of the offseason work, training camp and the preseason with a knee injury. Brown suffered a lacerated kidney in a Week 13 game in 2024. Before going down with the injury, he was Washington's No. 2 receiver behind McLaurin, catching 35 passes for 453 yards and one touchdown. Of course, that one touchdown was the Hail Mary against the Chicago Bears.

With Brown practicing twice this week, it would seem to indicate he's close to a return. Washington faces the Minnesota Vikings in Week 14.

While Brown will not play, the Commanders do get Treylon Burks back. It will be the first time that McLaurin has played with the 2022 first-round pick of the Tennessee Titans.

This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Washington Commanders: Good and bad news for Week 13 vs. Broncos