The Commanders have not seen anything from the Marshon Lattimore trade yet, having played four games without the decorated cornerback since acquiring him at the deadline. It does not look like Washington’s Lattimore-less game streak will reach five.
Heading into a Week 14 bye, the Commanders are expected to have Lattimore available when they return, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter said during a Pat McAfee Show appearance. The Commanders travel to New Orleans in Week 15, certainly representing the most interesting place Lattimore could debut for the NFC East team.
Lattimore has been down with a hamstring injury for five weeks, missing what would have been his final Saints game due to the issue. This did not stop a heated trade market from forming. The Ravens sent the Commanders an offer featuring a third-round pick, while the Chiefs discussed the eighth-year defender with the Saints as well. The Chargers were in on Lattimore, and it took additional fourth- and sixth-round picks for Washington to pry him from New Orleans.
While the Saints are up on the scorecards early in this trade, Lattimore will have his say soon. The Commanders have seen their run defense fare worse than their pass defense this season; the team ranks ranks fifth against the pass through 13 games. The 8-5 squad also waived Emmanuel Forbes on Saturday, with Schefter adding that move likely came about because of an expectation Lattimore was closing in on a return. The Rams have since claimed Forbes, taking the Commanders off the hook for more than $5MM in guaranteed base salary from now through 2026.
This Lattimore injury absence is notable, however, as the Saints saw a few nagging maladies that kept the four-time Pro Bowler off the field. As Lattimore fell out of favor with the Saints — to the point New Orleans set a non-QB dead money record by moving him at the deadline — a report indicating the team previously took issue with the corner’s overly lengthy (in the organization’s view) recoveries from past injuries. Lattimore went down with an ankle injury and missed the Saints’ final seven games last season. He missed 10 due to a lacerated kidney in 2022. Counting a Week 2 absence, the Ohio State alum has now missed six this season. Lattimore will count $31.7MM on the Saints’ 2025 cap.
The Commanders have continued to use Benjamin St-Juste as a starter, with rookie Mike Sainristil and Noah Igbinoghene seeing the second- and third-most snaps at the position. Pro Football Focus ranks the second-round pick 36th among all corners this season while slotting the two veterans outside the top 100.
Lattimore will soon check in as a hopeful fixer of sorts for Washington, though it would not completely surprise to see the boundary corner eased into action after a lengthy rehab process. Lattimore’s Saints-designed contract runs through the 2026 season, making this upcoming stretch an early gauge of the former Defensive Rookie of the Year’s form for the team.
Finally, the biggest trade this year plays with his new team.