Commanders May Not Have Top Weapon for Opener vs Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals have just one preseason game left on their schedule before regular season prep begins, as a Saturday date with the Minnesota Vikings will put a bow on what's been an interesting summer for the Cardinals from minicamp all the way to this morning, when the team traded Isaiah Simmons and Josh Jones in two separate transactions.

Yet in just a few days, the focus will shift towards their Week 1 battle against the Washington Commanders to officially open the Jonathan Gannon era here in the desert.

The Cardinals already know which quarterback they'll be facing after Washington head coach Ron Rivera announced earlier this week that Sam Howell would be the opening day starter, though Howell could now be without his top weapon.

ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting Commanders WR Terry McLaurin - who injured his toe in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens - isn't sure to play against Arizona to begin the 2023 season:

"While Washington has expressed optimism about the status of Terry McLaurin, who suffered a turf toe injury on Monday night, the Commanders’ wide receiver is uncertain for the regular-season opener vs. the Arizona Cardinals, per sources. McLaurin will work to be ready for the start of the season, but it’s too early to say whether he will be. His injury typically is a multiple-week injury," he wrote in a tweet.

That would certainly be a big blow for the Commanders despite having Curtis Samuel and Jahan Dotson in the mix as well. Debating on the sportsbook, the Commanders are roughly six-point favorites to beat Arizona in Week 1.

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