Rookie wide receiver Terry McLaurin has been no stranger to highlight plays this season. So far in his rookie year, the former Ohio State Buckeye has 833 yards and 7 touchdowns, and on Sunday he blitzed the Philadelphia Eagles once again for 130 yards and a touchdown.
However, even after the career-high performance on the field, McLaurin was eager to talk about a different play that he made when talking to reporters after the game. He wasn’t looking to talk about the 75-yard catch and run he had for a touchdown in the first quarter, but rather a block he had on the edge that allowed veteran running back Adrian Peterson to get into the end zone.
McLaurin was spread out wide to the right, and would normally be a non-factor on this run play that was designed to the left side, but AP’s tendency to reverse course had him ready and watching. As Peterson cuts back to the right side, McLaurin is able to re-engage with his defender and occupy him for enough time to allow the 34-year-old RB to cut up into the endzone, giving him his 110th career rushing touchdown — which would tie him with Walter Payton for the fourth-most in NFL history.
“I’ve missed a couple of those when AP bounces it back,” McLaurin said, via The Washington Post. “But on that play, I knew he was going to bounce it back. I just knew. So I just wanted to give him a two-way go, not necessarily force his hand. He came up and patted me on the head and told me he appreciated me, but that’s just my job.”
The old mantra for WRs in football is ‘no block, no rock,’ which encourages pass-catchers to help out in the run game so they can open up the passing game. McLaurin was able to hold up his end of the bargain on Sunday, and he seems extremely proud to be able to do so. That’s just what you want to see from your rookie playmaker.
