Latest news with #MarshonLattimore
USA Today
3 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Marshon Lattimore has some excellent advice for those who don't like physicality
Scrum as Kayshon Boutte and Marshon Lattimore have to be separated. Mike Vrabel was right in the middle helping get players apart. Marshon Lattimore is looking a lot like his old self these days. On Wednesday, the Washington Commanders faced another team for the first time this summer, traveling to New England to face the Patriots in a joint practice before the two teams play in Friday's preseason opener. Lattimore, the ninth-year cornerback, was acquired at the trade deadline last season. Unfortunately, Lattimore was dealing with a hamstring injury at the time of his trade, and that injury limited him all season, including when he debuted for the Commanders. When he did play, Lattimore struggled. Those struggles didn't stop him from mixing it up with Washington's opponents, specifically, Philadelphia's A.J. Brown. Brown got the better end of those two meetings last season, but again, Lattimore was playing hurt. Good news. Lattimore is back. He's participated fully throughout training camp with no limitations. He's working with younger players to help them improve, while also ensuring he gets back to his previous levels, when he was a four-time Pro Bowl selection. If Wednesday was any indication of what we should expect from Lattimore in 2025, it could mean good news for the Commanders. Lattimore looked healthy and fluid against the Patriots. He looked so healthy that he was up to his old tricks again. Lattimore and Patriots wide receiver Kayshon Boutte were involved in a skirmish. That skirmish even got Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel involved, and he paid for it. While Lattimore is an emotional player, it's always worked for him. He loves to get under the skin of his opponents. Ask Mike Evans. Their battles are legendary. After Wednesday's practice, Lattimore shared his excitement for the physicality involved. 'We're fighters, and I love that,' Lattimore said via Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post. 'Mentally and physically, just fighting through the day. I love to see that from a young team, too. They're ready to just do whatever. It's football. It's a physical sport. If that's too physical for you, then you shouldn't be playing football.' Lattimore wasn't mad after the practice. He loved it. When head coach Dan Quinn calls someone a "dawg" competitor, this is what he's talking about. Lattimore competes whether he's healthy or not. No excuses. The Commanders aren't about to ask Lattimore to change his approach, because it's that approach that makes him special. Good news for the Commanders: Marshon Lattimore looks like he's back.
Washington Post
30-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Hamstrung last year, Marshon Lattimore tries to regain his reputation
The widest range of outcomes for any Washington Commander this season may belong to Marshon Lattimore. He could reclaim his place as a star defender at a premium position, or he could become General Manager Adam Peters's most significant misfire. His track record suggests he could still be a star, the locus of an excellent secondary. His injury-marred performance last year prompts worry his best days are behind him and the Commanders will lack a lockdown corner to build around. Entering his ninth season at age 29, having missed 25 games over the past three seasons, Lattimore must prove he can stay healthy and rediscover the form that once made him one of the NFL's best cornerbacks. The Commanders need him — he is carrying an $18 million cap hit, sixth-most among NFL defensive backs, according to Spotrac. Lattimore is confident he's the same elite player he was in New Orleans, the four-time Pro Bowl selection who injected swagger into the Saints and neutralized star wideouts. 'I'm proving it to myself, first and foremost,' Lattimore said after Tuesday's practice. 'Everybody has got to see what I put out there. They can judge then. I'm not really too worried about proving anybody wrong. I just prove myself right.' Lattimore has found comfort at Commanders training camp after a difficult midseason adjustment and playing through injury in 2024. After the trade leading into Week 10, Lattimore had to learn coordinator Joe Whitt Jr.'s scheme, which differed from how he played in New Orleans. He also tried playing through a hamstring injury that held him out six of the Commanders' final eight regular season games and never fully healed. 'It was just the injuries last year,' Lattimore said. 'I know what was going on. Coming here, middle of the season, I just feel way more comfortable right now.' Lattimore missed four games last year before he made his Commanders debut. He realizes now he returned too soon. 'A hamstring takes time,' Lattimore said. 'I was trying to rush back and play, and I wasn't doing nothing but re-aggravating it. My burst and my confidence in my legs just wasn't there.' Pressure to help his new team, and to justify their belief in trading for him, drove Lattimore to play too soon. After he missed the final two games of the regular season, his hamstring still wasn't 100 percent. He returned for the playoffs, anyway, and was a husk of himself against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and old NFC South nemesis Mike Evans. He still played roughly 90 percent of Washington's postseason snaps. 'I feel I could have helped,' Lattimore said. 'That's why I got out there no matter what even though I wasn't all the way 100 percent. I tried to show them I could play here and help them win. I just know I wasn't myself. Now I got a full offseason, I'm good.' Lattimore has been solid, but not standout, at training camp. Several 11-on-11 plays have ended with Lattimore smacking his hands after a wideout caught a pass in front of him. But his track record outweighs a handful of training camp practices. What matters most is that Lattimore is healthy and comfortable in Washington's system. He says he is. Lattimore's performance this season will determine whether Peters's swing at last year's deadline paid off. The Commanders traded third-, fourth- and sixth-round picks — all in 2025 — for Lattimore and a fifth-rounder. (The deal eventually became those three picks for Lattimore and Deebo Samuel: Washington dealt the fifth-rounder it received from New Orleans to the San Francisco 49ers for Samuel. The 49ers used that pick, for the record, to take Oregon running back Jordan James.) At his best, Lattimore would be an ideal fit at the center of Washington's cornerback group. Mike Sainrstil's intelligence, versatility and playmaking makes him hugely valuable, but he's not the type of cornerback who erases a top receiver on the outside. Noah Igbinoghene is a solid veteran who keeps making plays in camp. Trey Amos has shown huge promise as a rookie. The Commanders just need a proven No. 1 corner. Lattimore believes that's still what he is, now that he's healthy and has a full understanding of the system. 'I like this defense,' Lattimore said Tuesday, before he paused and smiled. 'I love it.' Coach Dan Quinn has been focused on how second-year players have developed, and he views wideout Luke McCaffrey and tight end Ben Sinnott as those who could make a significant leap this year. Sinnott was one of the most athletic tight ends coming out of the draft last year, but he struggled deciphering coverages and running routes and caught five passes as a rookie. Quinn has seen signs of progress. At a recent practice, Sinnott picked up a specific check against a blitz, ran a seam route and caught a pass from Jayden Daniels, nailing several nuances with one play. 'A year ago, that would have been harder,' Quinn said. McCaffrey has been receiving ample opportunities to claim the No. 3 wideout spot, playing with the first-team offense in three-receiver sets. McCaffrey, a former quarterback in college, picked up the offense quickly last year. This year, Quinn has seen him improve finer receiving skills. 'You kind of see maybe before there was still some time he was thinking like a quarterback,' Quinn said. 'Now you see him thinking like a receiver. That sounds counterintuitive — like, more knowledge, wouldn't that be better? He's refined some details at the receiver position.'
USA Today
22-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Could the Washington Commanders still add a veteran cornerback?
Training camp officially begins on Wednesday, marking the start of a grueling schedule. Most teams have their player personnel largely sorted out, but as we saw with the Washington Commanders signing Von Miller last week, we know that teams aren't quite done moving players around. They don't have to finalize their 53-man roster until the end of August, giving players roughly a month to prove they deserve a spot. Every team needs something, though, despite their efforts to solve problems during the offseason. Most teams are still trying to ensure the right pieces are in the right places. As such, Bleacher Report named one trade that every team should make before the season starts. Washington Commanders: Add a veteran CB This was a need for the Commanders last year, hence the midseason trade for Marshon Lattimore. But he wasn't very reliable in Washington. The only other notable veteran at the position the front office brought in this offseason was Jonathan Jones, who also didn't play particularly well in 2024. Meanwhile, the team has Super Bowl hopes and is looking to take advantage of Jayden Daniels being on a rookie contract. So, shoring up the secondary with a veteran would be in line with how GM Adam Peters has operated over the last two offseasons. Marshon Lattimore was an utter disappointment in 2024, but that doesn't mean he will be again this year. Most don't have a lot of faith in that, and that's okay, but it doesn't mean they're right. Additionally, Kevon Seymour is entering his eighth season in the NFL, Noah Igbinoghene is entering his fifth season, and Bobby Price is entering his sixth season, alongside Lattimore and Jones. They have veterans in the secondary; they just aren't big names or guys who do flashy things. They are depth players, and as long as Lattimore plays like we all know he can, those guys will fill in as needed when Lattimore and second-year star Mike Sainristil need a break. Trading for a veteran cornerback wouldn't hurt anything, but they'd have to find a big name, and it's unlikely that Adam Peters wants to spend the money that would take. Remember, Washington used a second-round pick on Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos, and he impressed them in the spring. But what if another veteran became available and it was too much to pass up? Remember, you can never have too many pass rushers or corners. Another potential option would be to trade with the Cleveland Browns for Denzel Ward, but Peters would have to be willing to give up draft picks and use some cap space. The Browns are in a weird place with Deshaun Watson, so it's not out of the question to make this trade. Plus, Ward is a schematic fit for Dan Quinn's defense. For now, the Commanders will evaluate the players they have in training camp, and then they may decide to make some moves. Maybe. But don't count on Peters adding a big-name cornerback to the mix. There is potential in the room and Washington believes Lattimore will bounce back strong in 2025.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Washington Commanders training camp preview: Cornerbacks
Washington Commanders training camp kicks off next week when the veterans report. However, the 2025 rookie class is scheduled to report this week. Before camp opens, we here at Commanders Wire are previewing each unit before the players hit the field. We will begin our previews with the cornerbacks. Washington's cornerback room looks much different than it did one year ago at this time. Gone are failed former draft picks Emmanuel Forbes and Benjamin St-Juste. Since then, the Commanders have added Marshon Lattimore and Trey Amos. It's a better group overall. How much better? Advertisement Let's dive in. Coaching staff Defensive coordinator: Joe Whitt Jr. Defensive backs coach: Tommy Donatell Assistant defensive backs coach: William Gay Defensive pass game coordinator: Jason Simmons Senior defensive assistant: John Pagano The Commanders have several coaches in the secondary with various backgrounds. Gay and Simmons were standout NFL players, while Pagano is a longtime assistant and two-time NFL defensive coordinator. Donatell was previously the Chargers' secondary coach before coming to Washington. This group worked well together in 2024, as young players like Mike Sainristil and Quan Martin took a significant leap. Sainristil, a rookie last season, improved throughout the season despite being asked to play inside and outside. Starters Outside: Marshon Lattimore Outside: Trey Amos Nickel/slot: Mike Sainristil Lattimore and Sainristil are locked in as starters. Much of Amos's starting depends on when he gets signed and what type of camp he has. If he can get signed before camp and continue to impress the way he did in the spring, he will start Week 1. However, Sainristil proved he could start on the outside, which Washington could do in the interim. Or, veteran Jonathan Jones can start outside or inside. He's also versatile and reliable and will play a lot. Noah Igbinoghene returns and will be the No. 5 cornerback. He played a lot last season and excelled in the slot. Advertisement Depth and reserves Jonathan Jones Noah Igbinoghene Bobby Price Allan George Kevon Seymour Car'lin Vigers (R) Fentrell Cypress II (R) Seymour played a lot on special teams last season. He also got some time at cornerback. Price offers terrific size, but will battle George, Seymour, Vigers and Cypress for a spot. One of these players must stand out in the preseason if they expect to win a job. Washington will likely keep a cornerback or two on the practice squad. Outlook Much of this group's potential hinges on Lattimore's health. If the veteran four-time Pro Bowler can remain healthy and resemble his former self, Washington has a true No. 1 cornerback to challenge some of the NFL's top receivers, like NFC East studs A.J. Brown, CeeDee Lamb and Malik Nabers. If he battles injuries, Washington will be more able to cover for him this fall with the presence of Jones and Amos. The Commanders need Amos to win a starting job and never look back. Jones is a reliable veteran who will never back down from a challenge. He's also a feisty run defender. Advertisement Sainristil looks like a future star. He was excellent in the slot last season before moving outside. When he moved outside, he did an outstanding job against Philadelphia's receivers, Brown and DeVonta Smith. Washington would prefer to play him inside, where he could challenge as the NFL's top slot cornerback. Igbinoghene was a smart re-signing. He thrived in an expanded role in 2024. This is a solid group. Could one of the Commanders' UDFAs (Vigers and Cypress) challenge for a spot? They had a strong offseason, especially Vigers. This article originally appeared on Commanders Wire: Commanders training camp preview: Cornerbacks
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Commanders' Marshon Lattimore Trade Earns Pricy Bad News Review
Commanders' Marshon Lattimore Trade Earns Pricy Bad News Review originally appeared on Athlon Sports. After recognizing their potential to compete in the NFC, the Washington Commanders traded for experienced cornerback Marshon Lattimore to create a well-rounded sense of security in the secondary. Most people believe, however, that Washington gave up too much in the trade, dealing away a third, fourth, and fifth-round NFL Draft pick to the New Orleans Saints. Advertisement The trade's aftermath was forgetful as Lattimore missed the next six games with a hamstring injury. Once he returned, he didn't make a positive first impression on his new fanbase. He played the last two regular-season games and Washington's impressive run to the NFC Championship Game. Most Commanders fans will remember his frequency to draw pass interference penalties and his fight with Philadelphia Eagles receiver A.J. Brown more than anything else during that stretch. Now entering 2025 - where Washington will pay him a near top-of-the-market $18 million - the Commanders must demand that Lattimore returns to his Pro Bowl ways to give the team any shot at living up to their Super Bowl expectations. Washington beefed up the interior adding Javon Kinlaw and Deatrich Wise after Eagles running back Saquon Barkley walked all over the Commanders' defense last season. If Lattimore continues to struggle, however, the defense will remain a liability. Advertisement Lattimore should have the opportunity to play opposite of promising rookie Trey Amos, who brings good size for this run-stopping agenda. A more motivated Lattimore should help bring Amos along and spark some playmaking from the Washington secondary. Lattimore hasn't reached 50 tackles in a season since his fourth and latest Pro Bowl selection in 2021. The Commanders are going to need to see that version of their high-priced corner in 2025 if he stays healthy. The Commanders paid a lot for Lattimore, and all signs currently show that the confidence in him hasn't wavered. Maybe a full season of good health in the nation's capital will be a turning point that gets his play back to the level we're accustomed to. Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon says Lattimore is Washington's "most overpaid player". Advertisement It took a lot to get him, and his contract will cost a lot to keep him over the next two years. If he rises to the occasion, the Commanders will deem the success of their investment on his performance. Not just throughout the regular season, but when it matters in the playoffs, too. After a slow start to his Commanders career, Lattimore has a lot to prove in confirming that his trade was worthwhile. Related: Could Commanders' Jayden Daniels' 'Wild Trajectory' Lead To MVP In 2025? Related: Commanders 'Most-Fascinating' Receivers Ranking Has One Major Question Mark This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 6, 2025, where it first appeared.
