Fully healed Marshon Lattimore sends chilling message to Commanders' rivals

Marshon Lattimore toiled through the 2024 campaign following his trade to the Washington Commanders before the deadline. Things are different now.

And Lattimore sent a warning to the rest of the league that he is fit and ready to fire on all cylinders.

The veteran cornerback couldn't shake off a hamstring injury last season. Lattimore tried valiantly to repay the faith shown in him by the Commanders, but it didn't go according to plan. Wild speculation about his future followed, but general manager Adam Peters made his stance clear almost immediately after Washington's fairytale playoff run concluded.

Peters was confident that with an extended recovery period to ensure the hamstring problem was fully healed, the Commanders would see the best of Lattimore this time around. Based on the reports emerging from Washington's mandatory minicamp, this approach is paying off.

Marshon Lattimore is fully healthy, and that's great news for the Commanders

Lattimore has looked extremely sharp, according to those in attendance. The cornerback's explosiveness and quick-twitch reactions that made him among the league's most prolific shutdown presences once upon a time have returned. It's early days, but this represents the biggest positive imaginable.

The former first-round pick out of Ohio State feels it, too. Lattimore acknowledged to the media that he pushed himself too far last season. But with the correct rest and recuperation, everything is now back to normal. And the dangerous proposition for Washington's playoff rivals.

"I feel good. It's been a full offseason to get healthy. I feel great, I've been working a lot, getting in better shape than I obviously was last year dealing with an injury, so I feel good. Just the burst, getting out of my breaks and all that. I was dealing with a hamstring, you know that takes a lot out of you. It takes a long time to heal, and I was just trying to battle through that. But now, with a full offseason, I feel great. I feel more explosive."

Marshon Lattimore via NBC Washington

There's just no telling what a healthy and available Lattimore will do for Washington's defense. They have a decent-looking cornerback room. But if the four-time Pro Bowler can get back to anything like his old form, it'll completely change the dynamic.

The Commanders will still take precautions. One look at wide receiver Noah Brown getting carted off on Day 2 reveals just how quickly things can change. But for now, Lattimore is at optimum fitness levels and ready to silence his increasing doubters.

With Mike Sainristil, Jonathan Jones, Noah Igbinoghene, and second-round pick Trey Amos also capable of logging prominent reps, the sky's the limit. However, this unit will only go as far as Lattimore takes them.

Looking at the complete shift in mentality and performance, that could be a long way.