The Commanders kicked off their mandatory mini-camp, but it looks like Noah Brown’s stint in Washington is anything but smooth. Why? Well, the wideout first sustained a kidney injury in week 13 of the last season against the Titans. And now? Well, he went down during a routine 7‑on‑7 drill, limped off the field, threw his helmet in visible frustration, and was carted to the facility for evaluation.

Not the kind of start the Commanders and head coach Dan Quinn wanted for Brown during minicamp. And suddenly, the head coach has become the center of attention as everyone’s now waiting for Brown’s return, an update on his possible return, to be precise. But the update from the head coach wasn’t all glitter and touchdown. Quinn made it clear that he knows nothing about his recovery. Kind of.

“I have no update on Noah. He’s getting an MRI today,” Quinn said. MRI of which body part? The head coach didn’t specify. But the fact that he’s getting an MRI could be because the medical team wants to find out the severity of Brown’s injury. ESPN Commanders reporter John Keim reported earlier this week that Brown had been having a great spring with the Washington team, and his workouts had been going well.

But alas, the 29-year-old receiver sustained yet another injury ahead of his second season with the Commanders. Plus, the extent of his injury is still uncertain. When Brown signed with Washington ahead of the 2024 regular season, his first few weeks felt like a perfect fit—no adjustment period, no learning curve, just smooth chemistry with Jayden Daniels.

By Week 8, he’d already stamped his arrival with that Hail Mary grab against the Bears. Final play, 52 yards, triple coverage—didn’t matter. Brown came down with it, and just like that, it was the league’s Moment of the Year.

And let’s face it—for a brief stretch, it felt like the wideout is the Commanders’ missing piece. But that stretch, though, didn’t last. Why? Cue the week 13 showdown against the Titans, where Brown took a hit over the middle that looked routine—until it wasn’t. He stayed down longer than usual, and by the next day, news broke of a kidney injury tied to cracked ribs.

The team placed him on injured reserve almost immediately, and head coach Quinn admitted it was a “significant internal injury.” Tough blow for a veteran receiver who was gaining traction with a new team, and just like that, everything paused. Fast forward to now, and Noah Brown has found himself strangled around yet another injury. This time, he wasn’t in Tennessee, but with his teammates during the minicamp.

No wonder the wideout threw his helmet in frustration. After all, his first season in Washington was cut short to just 11 games, where he caught 35 receptions for 453 yards and one touchdown. And he surely doesn’t want to watch his second season with Dan Quinn and Co. from the sidelines. Sure, the Browns have upgraded their receiving corps, but still, Brown has been a key part of the roster.

What does Noah Brown’s injury mean for Dan Quinn and Co.?

It’s a huge blow for Noah Brown and the Commanders, no doubt. But it won’t be wrong to say that the 29-year-old wide receiver has endured nothing but bad fortune ever since his Hail Mary catch (NFL Moment of the Year) against the Bears. And now that he acquired another injury during the minicamp, and the extent of his injury is uncertain, what message is it sending to the Commanders’ locker room, especially the receiving corps?

Simple: pressure on the veteran receivers, Deebo Samuel and Terry McLaurin. The Commanders have acquired Samuel from the 49ers this offseason, and he’s expected to add a veteran touch to the receiving room. As for McLaurin? Well, he’s expected to do what he does best. Stay consistent, appear in every game, and record yet another 1,000+ yard season, just like he’s been doing for the past four years.

On the other hand, the Commanders also added Ja’Corey Brooks, a rookie (signed as an undrafted free agent) from Louisville who stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 195 pounds. Add Jacoby Jones, a 6-foot-3 rookie receiver from UCF, and Lawrence Cager (age 27) with four years of NFL experience, and the Commanders’ receiving room is pretty much stacked up ahead of the season opener against the Giants.

While it’s too early to predict, given that there’s still time in the week 1 showdown against New York, we can expect Noah Brown’s return as well. After all, the wideout is looking to make some noise in Washington as well.