ASHBURN, Va. — Promising news out of Washington Commanders headquarters this week, as all-pro cornerback Marshon Lattimore made his debut on the practice field.
Nursing a hamstring injury suffered while with the New Orleans Saints, Lattimore has yet to play a game for the Commanders, who acquired him in a trade on November 5, just before the NFL’s trade deadline.
Washington head coach Dan Quinn has emphasized from the beginning that the process of getting Lattimore on the field would be careful and deliberate, just as it has been with other players returning from injury.
As promising as Lattimore’s return to the practice field is, it is not guaranteed that he will make his season debut with the Commanders this weekend. In fact, he is officially listed as ‘doubtful’ to face the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
“We're pumped that he's certainly closer,” Quinn said of Lattimore. “We’ve got a pretty strong process to go through, and the player is a part of that too. So, we're going to make all decisions with the team’s best interests in mind, but man, is it good to have him back out there and getting going. You can feel his energy about it too.”
While we wait for official word on Lattimore, we know that running back Austin Ekeler and offensive tackle Andrew Wylie will not be available this weekend, as both have been ruled out while continuing to work through the league’s concussion protocol.
Running back Jeremy McNichols is expected to have an expanded role with Ekeler out, while tackle Cornelius Lucas is set to get starting reps with Wylie sidelined.
Every other Washington player on the injury report has been cleared to play, including running back Brian Robinson Jr., who injured his right ankle in the loss to the Dallas Cowboys and was forced to sit out the entire second half.
For the Titans, they will be without offensive tackle Leroy Watson IV (back) and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (groin), while running back Tyjae Spears is listed as questionable with a concussion.