SEPTEMBER 13: Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed on Friday Forbes will not be placed on IR. As a result, he will be able to return to the field in relatively short order.
SEPTEMBER 12: Emmanuel Forbes is set to miss time early in his second NFL season. The Commanders corner will undergo thumb surgery tomorrow, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. 
Forbes sustained a torn UCL in Week 1, and instead of playing through the nagging ailment he will take the surgery route to address it. The 2023 first-rounder faced expectations for a notable step forward this season, so this news obviously represents a setback. No firm timeline is in place for his recovery, although ESPN’s John Keim notes injured reserve may not be needed in this case.
Placing Forbes on IR would guarantee at least a four-game absence, but taking a week-to-week approach could allow him to return to action quicker. How the operation plays out will of course be a determining factor in whether or not the Commanders will move Forbes to IR. Missing the 23-year-old for any period of time will leave Washington without a contributor in the secondary, though.
After a stellar college career in terms of ball production, Forbes entered the league with high expectations. The Mississippi State product only logged a 50% snap share as a rookie, however, and when on the field he struggled in coverage. Forbes allowed three touchdowns and a 103 passer rating as the nearest defender last year, albeit one during which the Commanders struggled across the board defensively to close out the campaign in particular. In Week 1, he gave up completions on all three of his targets.
Forbes did manage 11 pass deflections in 14 games as a rookie, flashing playmaking potential which could allow him to live up to his draft status over time. The 6-0, 180-pounder will still no doubt face questions about his size when back on the field, and his ability to develop will be a key storyline for the Commanders as they rebuild under head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Adam Peters.
With Forbes sidelined, Washington will move forward with Benjamin St-Juste as a starter on the perimeter along with third-round second-round rookie Mike Sainristil in place as the top slot option. Veteran Michael Davis – who split first-team reps with Forbes during the spring – is a candidate to step into a defensive role. Davis played exclusively on special teams in his Commanders debut while Noah Igbinoghene handled rotational defensive duties. One of Davis or Igbinoghene should be in line for an increased workload while Forbes recovers.
One of the biggest busts of that draft. Rivera was horrible during all his drafts.
The Redskins/Commies should of taken Justin Herbert instead of Chase Young. Still Chase Young was a consensus choice, later rookie of the year. Kept on a tight leash, Young might have been a bigger success. Justin Herbert would have been worth a lot more to the Commies than any DE.
There were some good defensive linemen drafted. Montez Sweat was the product of a trade back up into the first round, and a good choice. Overall the drafts didn’t work out well. Very strange that a defense oriented coach couldn’t pick better players on defense.
Justin has yet to do much as a pro, too. Only ‘he looks the part: tall, strong-armed, just missing talent around him’ etc. BS from the media.
Can’t be mad at the Chase Young pick as he was being compared to the Bosa’s coming out of college. A lot of people played the what if game with Herbert and Tua, but then there is the question of who’s developing/coaching them on Ron’s staff?
Montez was drafted by the previous administration in 2019.
Forbes is a talented player but undersize for the NFL. Big receivers like A.J. Brown (division rival) swat Forbes away like a fly. Let alone receiver type tight ends like Kittle or Kelce (fortunately there’s no top tier tight ends in the division right now).