OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: TERRY McLAURIN

The Washington Football Team's offense was less than special in 2020, but it was good enough to somehow win a division title. A big part of that was receiver Terry McLaurin, our Warpath Offensive Player of the Year.

- Chris Russell

McLaurin finished the regular season with 87 receptions on 134 targets for 1,118 yards, but only four touchdowns.

Despite fewer touchdowns than his rookie year, McLaurin essentially won the division title for Washington by returning from a one-game absence due to a high ankle sprain and caught the opening touchdown against Philadelphia in Week 17. That catch fueled a 10-0 advantage. While Washington quickly blew that lead, it went on to win the NFC East by that touchdown margin.

McLaurin really shouldn't have been out on the field that night. A high ankle sprain that was labeled significant is usually a four-plus week injury. Yet coach Ron Rivera knew the offensive captain was playing a couple of days before when at practice on a back field, Rivera looked over and saw McLaurin getting juiced up.

“What happened was on Thursday (a few days before the division clincher) he (McLaurin) had told us that he had felt it turning, Rivera recalled. We practiced outside, and so while we were practicing, I noticed him on the other side of the field on one of the other practice fields running sprints. I saw him run a 100-yard dash, for whatever reason. I knew he was playing. That’s all it took.”

McLaurin is revered in the organization and the fan base for situations just like this.