Worst tragedy: the worst I have seen! Dan Quinn Commanders professional Genius” misses final training’ aim terrible Injury huddle just now” could sadly be a nightmare for Quinn selection” here is the full tragic story….
Marshon Lattimore, a recently acquired cornerback, will not be rushed into action by the Washington Commanders. He is in Washington to play in the last games as they attempt to qualify for the playoffs, so it would defeat the purpose of bringing him over from the New Orleans Saints in the first place.
It seems increasingly likely that Week 11 will not include a Thursday Night Football matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles.
“With him, really, it’s the speed part that we have to see to make sure he can really do his thing,” Quinn told the media before practice on November 12. “But this is a bright guy. He’s played a lot of football and so the ability transfer over that technique is now called this, that call is now this. He was able to pick up on that quickly.”
Since his last game with the Saints in Week 9, Lattimore has missed three straight games due to hamstring strains, including Tuesday’s practice. He was also not present when the Commanders lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers 28-27 in Week 10.
“With a Thursday game against the Eagles on deck for Washington, it seems like a third straight week on the sideline is in Lattimore’s future,” Pro Football Talk’s Josh Alper wrote on November 12. “… Playing on Thursday gives Lattimore a little more time to heal up before Week 12 and that might make it the most realistic date for his debut.”
Commanders Need Lattimore at All-Pro Level
Lattimore has been one of the NFL’s elite cornerbacks since the Saints drafted him with the No. 11 overall pick out of Ohio State in 2017.
He was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2017 and made his first Pro Bowl with a career-high 5 interceptions in just 13 games. It was the first of 4 Pro Bowl nods for Lattimore, who has 15 career interceptions through his first 7 seasons.
With a massive five-year contract extension worth $97.6 million that goes through 2026, Lattimore cashed in in September 2021.
Lattimore has struggled with injuries in recent years. In 2022, he missed 10 games due to a kidney laceration, and he missed 7 games due to an ankle ailment.
Commanders Don’t Have Elite CB on Roster
Lattimore’s time with the Commanders might be short if he doesn’t perform well — there’s an out for his contract in 2025 but he could play his way into a lucrative new deal on a team that will have over $100 million salary cap space available next year.
Following the Commanders’ selection of Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. in the first round (No. 16 overall) of the 2023 NFL draft, that money is essentially up for grabs at this point to the best player available.
Over the past two seasons, Forbes has been among the NFL’s worst cornerbacks and hasn’t shown himself as a reliable backup or even a full-time starter. In the offseason, if the Commanders are lucky, they will find a team that is prepared to trade a third-day pick for him.
The Commanders might be better off waiting for a great class of free agents in 2025, which includes D.J. Reed, Mike Hilton, Charvarius Ward, and Rasul Douglas, if they want to make long-term improvements at cornerback.
