Cornerback Marshon Lattimore has been listed as doubtful for the Washington Commanders' Week 13 game against the Tennessee Titans but is getting closer to making his debut.
Lattimore practiced with his new teammates for the first time this week and was limited on Wednesday and Thursday. Coach Dan Quinn confirmed that Lattimore would get "some first shots at practice with him" Wednesday morning and that the team was "pumped to get him back out in the field."
"They're hard to predict, on soft tissue injuries and so it'll be awesome to have him back out working into practice today." Quinn said.
The Commanders have kept to a strict recovery process with Lattimore, who has been dealing with a hamstring issue since he was acquired from the New Orleans Saints. The team doesn't want to put him in a game scenario until he is fully ready, so most of his work prior to this week was done off to the side as he recovered and learned the defensive system.
Quinn expressed optimism last week that Lattimore would make his debut against the Titans. We still don't know yet whether that will happen, but progress has been made to make it a reality. When he does suit up for the first time, the Commanders will gain one of the best cornerbacks in the league over the past 10 years. Lattimore is a four-time Pro Bowler with 88 pass breakups and 15 interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.
"We got a pretty strong process to go through and the player is a part of that, too," Quinn said Friday. "So, we're going to make all decisions, protect the team first, but man, is it good to have him back out there and get going. You can feel his energy about it, too."
While it is unclear whether Lattimore will play against the Titans, the Commanders will certainly be without running back Austin Ekeler, who is currently in the concussion protocol. In his place will be Jeremy McNichols, who is set to have a larger role against his former team. The last time he was the primary backup in Week 4 against the Arizona Cardinals, McNichols rushed for 68 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-14 victory.
Right tackle Andrew Wylie, who also started the week in the concussion protocol, has been ruled out for Sunday as well. Wylie has been an important piece in the run game when healthy, although Quinn said that the Commanders have "a big, deep crew" if they need to replace him or one of the other pieces of the run game this week. That could be backup Trent Scott, but swing tackle Cornelius Lucas, who has split time at left tackle with rookie Brandon Coleman, could get time there as well.
Wide receiver Noah Brown, one of Jayden Daniels' favorite targets this season, was added to the injury report on Thursday with a knee injury but will be good to go for Sunday.
Running back Brian Robinson Jr., who missed time against the Dallas Cowboys with an ankle injury, will be good to go for Sunday, as will players like Dante Fowler Jr. and Clelin Ferrell, both of whom were on the injury report with hip and knee injuries, respectively.
