Buckle up, Mike Evans. You might have a chance to face longtime rival Marshon Lattimore during Wild Card Weekend. But with the newly acquired Washington Commanders cornerback suffering from a hamstring issue, what does Lattimore’s availability look like come Sunday?
What Is Marshon Lattimore’s Injury?
In an effort to shore up some of their defensive struggles, the Commanders made a trade to acquire a four-time Pro Bowler in Lattimore. However, the initial returns have been nearly invisible, with the CB missing six out of his first eight games.
A hamstring injury has been bothering Lattimore throughout the year. As a result, he was available for the game against the New Orleans Saints before again suiting up vs. the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 22.
Since then, however, the issue has flared up again, and Washington exercised caution for their star acquisition.
When Will Lattimore Return?
Hamstring issues are hard to judge. One small error and the situation can go from bad to disastrous in a matter of moments. As a result, Washington was smart to be cautious with Lattimore’s return.
Even with the playoffs unsecured, the team decided to let him heal completely in the final two weeks of the season. Thankfully, they won both in the midst of a four-game win streak, and Lattimore got the necessary rest.
This week, he’s already up to a full-time participant in practices beginning Wednesday. With four days to go before the Sunday Night Football clash between the two sides, Lattimore should be ready and raring to go, especially as he gets to see Evans on the opposition.
How Has Lattimore’s Absence Impacted the Commanders?
Truthfully, the Commanders haven’t gotten a chance to see what a healthy Lattimore looks like for extended stretches. Since coming over to Washington, he’s been available in a limited capacity for just two out of their eight games.
As a result, the team is yet to see what a pairing of him and budding star Mike Sainristil can look like on the corners. But, all year round, Washington has been stringing together wins on the back of its offense.
Led by superstar rookie Jayden Daniels, a 17th-ranked defense according to PFN’s Defense+ metric hasn’t slowed them down. Having Dan Quinn manage head coaching duties has improved Washington’s defense some, but much improvement still remains.
But with the ascent of Sainristil and a healthy Lattimore returning for the playoffs, they will face their biggest test immediately against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers offense that is firing on all cylinders and ranks third on PFN’s Offense+ metric.