Terry McLaurin and the Washington Commanders are still in the midst of contract negotiations, and until they can come to an agreement, there's no timetable for when the veteran receiver will return to the field.

As a result, the Commanders are getting a good look at their wide receiver depth, and there's a benefit to the team seeing exactly what they have as they try to fill out the rest of the room before Week 1.

"I think it's good competition," offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said after Monday's practice. "If you're gonna lose Noah [Brown] or Terry, you gotta have some guys step up, and I think we're starting to see who's kinda making plays when they're getting their opportunities and who's not."

Experimentation is a key part of training camp, and the Commanders have tried moving their wideouts around different formations to see who can succeed at certain spots. Players who normally line up in the slot have been placed on the perimeter, while others have been bumped to the slot and given the chance to prove they can win in traffic.

Newcomer Deebo Samuel is one of the few players who could fit into both categories. The Commanders have tried to utilize Samuel's versatility by moving him around the field so he can get more yardage after the catch -- another one of his stronger traits. However, his best plays have come as a traditional wide receiver, and he's had several catches that have earned cheers from the fans in attendance. He had another one on Monday working against Jonathan Jones, who was providing good coverage down the sideline.

It didn't matter, though, as Samuel hauled in the over-the-shoulder catch on a perfectly thrown ball by Jayden Daniels.

"Anything we ask him to do, whether we put him inside or outside, he's gonna go at it a thousand miles per hour," Kingsbury said. "He has an ability to separate. He's so strong running through [and] can play at a high speed. Guys have a hard time staying with him."

Luke McCaffrey is another player who the Commanders have moved around from his traditional spot as a slot receiver. The second-year pro has spent time on the outside working against rookie Trey Amos and has made a handful of plays. He made an impressive sideline grab working against Amos on Aug. 2, which drew some "Luuuuukkkkeee" chants from the fans.

Kingsbury has been impressed with the progress McCaffrey, who had 18 receptions for 168 yards in 2024, has made in a year.

"Luke has really come a long way," Kingsbury said. "He's definitely night and day different from what he was last year."

As for players who aren't regularly with the starters, fourth-round pick Jaylin Lane has gotten more snaps. He had what was perhaps the catch of training camp early in Week 2 and has consistently been open with the second and third groups.

Lane's primary job will likely be to serve as the team's punt returner, but he has at least shown he can handle more responsibility, if necessary.

"He's been very impressive," Kingsbury said. "If you tell him how to do it one time, he usually nails it. If he makes a mistake, he'll come back and get it corrected. Super, super talented, very fast."

Although it would be more ideal for the Commanders to have their full arsenal to work with on offense, Kingsbury and his staff know that won't always be the case. They want to have a solid backup option if one or several of their playmakers go down, and so far, Kingsbury likes what he has seen.

"I like the depth," Kingsbury said. "I think they can all play in this league."

Here are some more observations from Monday's practice:

-- Head coach Dan Quinn said near the start of his press conference that guard Brandon Coleman would be absent from practice as he recovers from an undisclosed injury. It's still unclear whether he will be ready in time for the joint practice with the New England Patriots, so the team will continue to evaluate him over the next few days.

-- Chris Moore has continued to show up in camp, as he made a catch deep downfield against Marshon Lattimore during the first 11-on-11 period. Although most of the receiver room appears to be set, there could be one open spot left. It's still too early to tell, but Moore has been making his case that he deserves to be on the roster.

-- Jacory Croskey-Merritt is another player who has made the most of his snaps. He made one cut on a handoff early in practice and broke loose into the second level. Kingsbury said Croskey-Merritt has had several positive flashes in camp so far, and he is excited to see what he does against the Patriots later this week.

-- This was mentioned earlier, but Samuel's sideline catch working against Jones was the highlight of the day. It's starting to become a trend for Samuel to make impressive grabs, and it's a good sign for how far his and Daniels' rapport has come over the past few weeks.

-- Amos was in the right place at the right time at the start of situational drills near the end of practice. On the first play with the starters on the field, a pass from Daniels slipped through Moore's grasp and into Amos' hands. Amos had tight man coverage on Moore, which was one of his best traits in college. If he can do that in an actual game, then it would help solve several of the team's issues from last season.