The Washington Commanders opened as 3.5-point betting favorites to defeat the Atlanta Falcons this coming Sunday. But the line has shifted drastically based on some injury news, as it has been revealed that both Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin will be out for Week 4.
Shorthanded Commanders Now Underdogs Against Falcons
In their quest to make it back to the NFC Championship game, the Commanders have started out 2-1. Hopes and aspirations are still high, but last season’s Rookie of the Year will now miss his second straight game.
In Washington’s loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 2, Daniels suffered a knee injury, and his immediate status was brought into question. He was on the sidelines for the team’s win against the Las Vegas Raiders, in which backup Marcus Mariota led them to victory.
And Terry McLaurin also has been ruled out for Sunday. https://t.co/EnX4CdQSvp
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 26, 2025
Mariota will get another start this Sunday. Early Friday afternoon, it was announced that Daniels has been ruled out for this weekend’s game in Atlanta, which comes as little surprise given that he was absent from practice all week.
But the quarterback won’t be the only important offensive piece that will be missing. At the same time that Daniels’ news was announced, it was confirmed that wide receiver Terry McLaurin will be out as well.
The team’s leading receiver in each of the past six seasons, McLaurin has struggled out of the gate in 2025. After posting 13 touchdowns last year, he has yet to find the end zone in the first three games, and has a total of 10 catches for 149 yards. He sustained a quad injury last week against Las Vegas, and there is no definitive timetable for his return.
It will be the first game that McLaurin has missed since the 2020 season, breaking a streak of 72 consecutive games played.
The oddsmakers have taken notice of the Commanders being shorthanded. The line that opened at 3.5 points in Washington’s favor has moved drastically, as the Falcons have now taken over as the betting favorites. Upon the news of Daniels and McLaurin’s unavailability, Atlanta now has a 1.5-point edge at the sportsbooks.
