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.

Von Miller's rookie season with Denver stands as a benchmark for the Broncos’ evaluation of pass rush talent. In 2011 he flashed with 11.5 sacks and earned a 90.0 overall PFF grade, the highest among Broncos rookies drafted since 2006. That immediate impact helped vault a 4-12 squad into the playoffs in 2011, setting the tone for a culture-shifting defense and launching Miller toward a Hall of Fame career.

The Broncos’ 2015 Super Bowl run crowned Miller as the defining force of that era, and his leap from Denver to a second championship with the Los Angeles Rams underscored the durability and adaptability of his peak. That arc – elite rookie production, franchise-transforming years in Denver, then title glory outside Colorado – remains a touchstone for fantasy managers sizing up edge stars and rookies who can carry immediate and long-term fantasy upside.

For fantasy players, Miller’s rookie-year breakout reinforces the value of early-edge talent in dynasty formats and the importance of team context and scheme in maximizing a defender’s fantasy impact. It also highlights how a franchise can recalibrate around a dominant rookie, producing ripple effects across defensive units and surge potential for their linemen in the year following a historic breakout.

Denver should get Nik Bonitto back soon after a bone spur removal on his top-foot, with coach Sean Payton targeting a return to practice next week and a potential run in the Aug. 23 preseason clash with New Orleans. Bonitto’s recovery timeline (about three ramp-up weeks before the opener) matters as the Broncos look to preserve a high-end defense that carried last season’s leap from 27th to 3rd in points allowed. In 2024 Bonitto posted a breakout line of 48 tackles, 13.5 sacks, 16 TFL, and multiple takeaways, establishing himself as a versatile edge with sack ability that Denver will lean on. If he’s at full speed by Week 1, the unit’s ceiling remains elevated and fantasy managers should monitor his practice progress and any preseason usage as a hint of Week 1 workload.

The broader context: Bonitto thrived in a Payton-led system and, entering a 2025 contract year, has momentum to sustain a top-tier edge presence. The article notes his breakthrough helped fuel a defensive surge the year prior, underscoring his value as a foundation piece for Broncos IDP and fantasy defenses. His eventual return will be watched closely for ramp, role in sub-packages, and how quickly he reconnects with teammates to keep Denver’s pass rush a strength in 2025.