Commanders Name Luke McCaffrey Third Quarterback Option

The Washington Commanders have designated wide receiver Luke McCaffrey as their third quarterback option for their Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants on Sunday, October 11, 2026. The decision gives the struggling receiver an alternative role as Washington manages its quarterback depth and an injury-hit receiving corps.

According to Heavy, Washington entered the game with Jayden Daniels and Athan Kaliakmanis as its two available quarterback options after choosing not to sign Sam Hartman to the 53-man roster. McCaffrey would be next in line if both quarterbacks became unavailable.

Commanders reporter Luke Standig explained the arrangement in a post on X.

"Washington didn’t sign Sam Hartman to the 53, so it’s Jayden Daniels and Athan Kaliakmanis at QB. Luke McCaffrey is next up if all goes wrong. Colson Yankoff had that role last week with McCaffrey inactive." Luke Standig wrote.

The assignment comes after McCaffrey was inactive for Washington's Week 4 game against the Indianapolis Colts in London. CBS Sports reported on October 4 that the coaching staff made the decision despite Terry McLaurin being unavailable with a hamstring injury.

McCaffrey returned to the active lineup during Washington's Week 3 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, but he did not record a reception. His contribution came on special teams, where he returned three kickoffs for 90 yards.

Daniels also returned against the Giants after missing the previous two games with a dislocated elbow sustained in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys. Washington entered Week 5 with a 1-3 record after losing to the Indianapolis Colts, increasing the importance of the divisional contest.

McCaffrey's limited involvement follows an uncertain preseason. During Washington's August 28 exhibition against the Baltimore Ravens, he played while several other receivers believed to have secured roster spots remained on the sidelines. The unusual rotation raised questions about his standing with the coaching staff.

Sports journalist Bair acknowledged that the preseason performance influenced his assessment of Washington's receiving group.

"It’s very possible that I got swayed too much by Friday night’s preseason game. Seeing Treylon Burks and Dyami Brown sit while Luke McCaffrey played changed my mind about this position group. Appropriately or not, I moved McCaffrey off the list at the last minute.

Dan Quinn said some of the reasoning of who played Friday was about snaps coming off the joint practice. That didn’t change my mind. If that was all for show or to generate trade leverage for another receiver or McCaffrey simply was asked to play over others, then I’ll own it.

The signs just seemed so clear on Friday night. I also originally had Jaden Bradley making it over a vet — you’ve gotta make a bold prediction somewhere — but I pulled that back and followed the breadcrumbs in this position group." Bair wrote.

Selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, McCaffrey entered the league after converting from quarterback to wide receiver during his college career. He played two seasons at Nebraska and one at Rice before recording 129 receptions for 1,714 yards and 19 touchdowns across the 2022 and 2023 college seasons.

Washington general manager Adam Peters expressed confidence in McCaffrey's physical abilities when discussing the rookie in May 2024.

"He’s got size, he’s got speed, he’s got great movement skills, and I think he’s only going to ascend," Adam Peters told Commanders.com reporter Zach Selby.

McCaffrey's NFL production has been limited through his first three seasons. In 2025, he appeared in nine games and scored three touchdowns during a four-game stretch from Weeks 3 through 6, while averaging 29.6 yards per kickoff return, the second-highest average in the league.

Washington's receiving depth also faces uncertainty after Jaylin Lane suffered a season-ending ankle injury. Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs appeared on the injury report ahead of the Giants game, although Diggs' return to practice offered a positive development, according to the October 9 report from Yahoo Sports.