Marshon Lattimore’s injury will keep him out of the Washington Commanders matchup at home vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, Head Coach Dan Quinn announced Friday. The former New Orleans Saint was always a longshot but was also acquired with a current hamstring injury.
Washington picked Lattimore up in the last hours of the trading deadline earlier this week and in return sent third, fourth and sixth-round picks to New Orleans. The Commanders also received a fifth-round pick with Lattimore. The good thing is no big changes in the defense. The bad thing? A four-time Pro Bowler is on ice a bit longer before showing his new team what he can do. How much longer will Marshon Lattimore’s injury impact the team?
Quinn: Marshon Lattimore’s Injury Gives Time For Acclimation
Quinn announced Lattimore was out and more time would be needed. Speaking with media Friday he said, “We’re not there yet.” He explained Lattimore is going through the process of getting to know the team and their defensive schemes. “Sometimes it’s as easy as I call it that, we call it this[when it comes to plays],” Quinn said. “That part of learning the system to get going is big.”
Even though Marshon Lattimore’s injury will need a little more time to heal, Quinn said they’re still working to bring him up to speed. Quinn explained Lattimore has a busy day, going through rehab, reviewing plays, and attending practice. “We’re trying to engage him as quickly as we can, so when it does become go time, there’s not a lag there,” Quinn said.
Lattimore Part Of the Bigger Picture
The Commanders are looking to push hard in the second half of the season, which means investing more in a defense that has shown some sparks of life throughout the season. According to Fox Sports, the Commanders’ defense is ranked No. 14, allowing 23 touchdowns this season so far. Bringing in Lattimore was to help shore up those holes in the secondary. This is his art form, shutting down touchdown opportunities in coverage since 2021, the Associated Press reports.
Defensive Coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. is all for it. “We’re excited to have him. He’s a dawg. He goes out there and fights, he’ll get up there and press. He’ll challenge anybody. He’s a great addition,” he said while speaking to the media Thursday. Whitt added it’s also good to see how excited the team responded to Lattimore’s arrival. “I didn’t know if I was going to see some guys with their heads down because you bring in a talent like this, some other guys might say well I might lose an opportunity. Nobody’s acting that way. That’s a credit to DQ [Dan Quinn] AP, and the brotherhood and the culture that’s being set here,” he said.
Lattimore’s Injury Is Recurring
On Friday, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport said Marshon Lattimore’s injury to his hamstring is not an isolated incident but something that has plagued him. “Hamstring injuries plagued him for some time in New Orleans. When he was on the field for sure one of the best in the NFL,” Rapoport said. He also said when the Commanders made the deal with the Saints they knew he wasn’t healthy. “Yes he passed the physical, they were always gonna pass him on the physical, but they knew it might take him a little bit to get on the field. The fact he’s not practiced yet for his new team [is] not a good sign…”
With Lattimore already ruled out for Sunday’s game, the question now is how long? Week 11 will be a quick turnaround three days later to play the Philadephia Eagles on Thursday night. The Eagles have a top-ten offense, passing 202.4 yards a game. “Obviously they want him for the long run, but two games for a player you just traded for would not be the ideal situation,” Rapaport said.
Final Thoughts: Trust the Process
When it comes to Marshon Lattimore’s injury, fans need to remember this was an investment. We’re not going to see immediate dividends. Considering what we’ve seen out of the Commanders’ defense this season, we all can agree they needed some help. Sometimes a change in the program helps the player.
