Marshon Lattimore isn’t sure when his hamstring injury will heal enough for him to play his first game for the Washington Commanders. However, team officials are excited about what he can bring once he’s ready to go.
Lattimore didn’t practice on Wednesday, just a day after being traded from New Orleans to Washington before the NFL trade deadline. It’s unclear whether he will be able to play in their game against Pittsburgh on Sunday.
Commanders general manager Adam Peters and head coach Dan Quinn believe adding a top-tier cornerback like Lattimore could provide new opportunities for a defense that’s already shown significant improvement this season.
“He’s exactly what you want in a corner,” said Peters. “He’s a really smart player, very instinctive, and physical. Those are the qualities we’re looking for. He’s just an all-around great football player.”
Lattimore hasn’t allowed a touchdown in coverage since 2021. He made the Pro Bowl four times in his first five seasons and has played in 104 regular-season and playoff games since joining the league in 2017.
The 28-year-old says he brings experience to the team but isn’t sure what exact role he will take in the secondary. “I’m ready to see where I fit in and learn the playbook,” Lattimore said. “It’s a new start for me. I’m just ready to go and see what the future holds.”
Lattimore explained that it’s up to the team’s trainers to determine when he can practice and return to play, as his hamstring injury happened in a recent game.
Peters and the Commanders made sure to fully check on his condition before finalizing the trade, which sent third-, fourth-, and sixth-round picks to the Saints in exchange for Lattimore and a fifth-round pick.
Washington is currently 7-2 and has two important games coming up against Pittsburgh and at Philadelphia over a five-day stretch. Because of this, the team may not rush Marshon Lattimore onto the field right away. When he does play, his presence could allow rookie Mike Sainristil to move to a position that suits him better.
“Not going to give away all my cards the first day,” said coach Dan Quinn when asked about that potential move.
Lattimore could be matched up against top receivers like A.J. Brown or CeeDee Lamb in the coming weeks, or he could lock down one side of the field opposite Benjamin St-Juste. Either way, there’s no doubt that Lattimore will improve the defense, which has climbed from 29th in the league to 14th, making them stronger both against the pass and the run.
“There’s so much he can do,” said safety Jeremy Chinn. “We could put him in man coverage, in zone, he can handle our entire playbook and do a lot of different things.”
Making a move at the trade deadline, even if the highest pick involved came from the trade of underperforming receiver Jahan Dotson to the Eagles in August, shows the team’s commitment to improving. This boost comes at a time when Washington is exceeding expectations and making a surprising push for a playoff spot.
“Anything that Adam and his staff is doing, man, we trust it no matter what,” said rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who is playing through sore ribs. “I think it just shows they want what’s best for the team, and we trust what they’re doing.”
Lattimore also joins former Ohio State teammates Terry McLaurin, Noah Brown, and Jalyn Holmes on the roster. His arrival moves Emmanuel Forbes — another disappointing first-round pick — further down the depth chart. How this will affect the team’s locker room dynamics remains to be seen.
“We have such an amazing culture here,” said six-time All-Pro linebacker Bobby Wagner. “I think it’s grown faster than people expected, but we have an amazing culture and it’s going to show whether or not someone can come in and fit into this culture.”
