Second-year cornerback Emmanuel Forbes Jr. will be active during the Washington Commanders' Week 4 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, providing the secondary with more depth as they prepare to take on Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr.
Forbes, who underwent surgery to repair his thumb, started participating in practice last week ahead of the team's Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals. However, coach Dan Quinn confirmed ahead of the primetime game that while they would wait until the day of the game to determine his status, they were more hopeful that he would play against the Cardinals.
Forbes was a full participant in all three of the team's practices in Arizona.
"He's trending to go do well," Quinn said Wednesday. "I expect that he'll practice well [and] be ready to go."
Forbes' return will provide the Commanders with more defensive backs to match up against Marvin Harrison Jr., the Cardinals' first-round pick who leads his team with 198 yards and three touchdowns. Though he has experienced some growing pains, such as being limited to just 40 yards against man coverage, Harrison has lived up to being the first receiver taken in April's draft.
"He's a guy that has a big catch radius, has the speed," said defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. "But they put him out there at the X, he can make you do things and tilt the coverage. And now that frees other people up."
Harrison has helped the Cardinals form one of the best offenses in the league through three games, and the Commanders will need to match that with their own unit, which is less than a week removed from putting up 38 points against the Bengals. They will have to do it without Austin Ekeler, who has the second most scrimmage yards for the team, as Quinn started the week by saying Ekeler will be out for Week 4 because of a concussion.
Finding a replacement for Ekeler will not be easy, although the team likes its options with veteran Jeremy McNichols set to get more snaps this week. Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury could also give more opportunities to other weapons in the passing game like Luke McCaffrey or Zach Ertz.
"We'll have to find a way, move some people around and try to make some things happen," Kingsbury said. "But it's a big loss."
On defense, the Commanders will be without defensive end Clelin Ferrell, who still leads the team with two sacks. The Commanders gave more opportunities to Dante Fowler Jr. and Javontae Jean-Baptiste against the Bengals to counter the loss, and both came away from the victory with at least .5 sacks. They will have a tougher task containing Murray, who already has 161 yards on 15 carries.
Guard Sam Cosmi missed Wednesday with an Achilles issue but will be ready to go on Sunday. Jamison Crowder will also miss Sunday's game with a calf injury. The rest of the players on Washington's injury report -- Benjamin St-Juste, Quan Martin and Jer'Zhan Newton -- were all full participants on Friday and will be available.
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