Washington Commanders are locking in 2025 around Terry McLaurin as a trade request is expected to be resolved via a compromise extension before Week 1, per Ben Solak’s visit. Washington’s aggressive 2025 roster moves—adding Deebo Samuel and Laremy Tunsil—signal a mission to maximize a high-volume passing attack while stabilizing the line and playmaking core. McLaurin’s market value hovers around the high-20s to $30 million APY, but age and Washington’s long-term plan create a likely compromise near $28 million APY. The piece frames a settlement as plausible, with Washington hoping to keep its WR1 intact and build around him.

Fantasy dynamics shift with Samuel’s signing and Tunsil’s addition: expect McLaurin to remain a central target, but Samuel’s presence could diversify routes and spark a more prolific aerial attack. The extension would preserve McLaurin’s elite target share while allowing Washington to maximize both receivers’ yearly production. The narrative emphasizes that a Week 1 compromise could unlock a stable, potent offense and clarify McLaurin’s fantasy outlook for 2025, including how defenses might plan for a two-man WR threat with a protected quarterback behind a bolstered line.

Washington Commanders' roster cutdown has reached a fever pitch as 53 players must be set by Tuesday afternoon. Terry McLaurin is absent from practice while negotiating a new deal, Noah Brown is ramping back from a leg injury, and Brian Robinson Jr. faces a likely cut or trade, thinning the backfield options.

The receivers and cornerbacks are the fiercest battlegrounds, with Jayden Daniels securely in command yet the battle for the third quarterback ongoing behind Johnson and Hartman. The team will weigh bubble players on the final preseason against the looming Sept. 7 opener with the Giants, and coach Dan Quinn urges players to stay grounded and present.

Undrafted and late-round contributors like Ja’Corey Brooks, Jacoby Jones, and Jacory Croskey-Merritt have one last chance to land a spot or practice squad, while veterans such as Frankie Luvu and Bobby Wagner provide steady leadership as Washington gears up for Week 1.

Aireontae Ersery’s rookie season is shaping Houston’s O-line into a gritty, smash‑mouth unit. With four new starters and Ersery locking down a blindside, the Texans aim to reduce sacks and boost Stroud’s development behind a tougher, more cohesive line. The blend of Ersery, Tomlinson, Ingram, Andrews, and Fisher signals a reset in both pass protection and run blocking, framed by Popovich’s finish‑and‑drive coaching style.

Stroud’s praise of Ersery captures the vibe: trust, back‑to‑back toughness, and a willingness to grind. The preseason hints at a more cohesive pocket and improved run lanes, even as Laremy Tunsil’s move to Washington looms in the background. If the chemistry sticks, fantasy managers could see a sturdier Texans offense elevating Stroud and Houston’s skill players in 2024.

Washington activated Terry McLaurin from the physically unable to perform list, but he has yet to step on the practice field as contract talks continue. The move isn’t framed as a sign of progress, and McLaurin will miss Monday’s preseason game versus Cincinnati while he recovers from an ankle issue. The Commanders will also sit veterans Bobby Wagner, Zach Ertz, Laremy Tunsil, Von Miller, Sam Cosmi and Marcus Mariota in the exhibition, with Jayden Daniels slated to start the regular season opener plan: McLaurin’s return-to-play protocol will guide his early-season timeline, likely delaying a full ramp-up but keeping him on track for Week 1 at home against the Giants on Sept. 7.

The roster notes emphasize a careful, stepwise return, and coach Dan Quinn stressed the club’s process as McLaurin’s deal remains unresolved. For fantasy managers, the absence of McLaurin in practice and the preseason suggests monitoring a ramp schedule, while the offense leans on the supporting cast and the developing quarterback play in the early weeks before McLaurin’s full involvement returns.

Aireontae Ersery flashed as Houston’s left tackle in his NFL debut, drawing early praise from Baldy for length and hand usage as he faced Vikings edge Dallas Turner. The Texans’ 10-play opening drive culminated in a Mills-to-Berrios TD, signaling both a fresh start for an overhauled line and a path toward fewer sacks after last year’s 52 allowed. The piece also outlines Houston’s offseason OL overhaul, including the culling of Tunsil and Mason and the addition of Brown, Robinson, Tomlinson and Ingram, and frames Ersery as a potential cornerstone of the rebuild with immediate fantasy relevance should protection improve.

As fantasy-specific takeaways, the breakdown suggests Stroud and Mills could reap the benefits of better pass protection, while Braxton Berrios could see steadier targets in a more competent offense. Ogunbowale’s involvement on the opening drive indicates a versatile backfield that could diversify Houston’s weekly floor and ceiling. Ersery’s performance against a first-round Vikings rookie also provides a blueprint for how soon the Texans’ line might stabilize and unlock deeper playmaking from the unit surrounding the rookie.