Fans have been keeping a close eye on developments around injured players fighting for involvement in the playoffs. If the Washington Commanders want to make some noise and secure Wild Card success over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, they need everyone fit and firing on all cylinders.
One player, in particular, is gaining the lion's share of attention for obvious reasons.
When the postseason opposition for Washington became official, it didn't take long for the media and the fanbase to center their attention on cornerback Marshon Lattimore and wide receiver Mike Evans renewing their physical rivalry. This is a bad-blood clash between two of the league's best at their respective crafts. It often spills over after the whistle, leading to penalties, skirmishes, and everything in between.
Lattimore's competitive fire and the fact he's managed to get under Evans' skin so much adds some extra urgency to his playoff participation. The Commanders need their most prolific shutdown presence to lock down one side of the field and keep the wideout in check. This will make things easier for Mike Sainristil and Noah Igbinoghene. It'll also keep the likes of Benjamin St-Juste and Michael Davis on the fringes.
Dan Quinn seemed confident that Lattimore would feature. He came through Wednesday's practice unscathed, but the head coach revealed things would become clearer after a more intense session on Thursday. If he passed every test after that, the green light wouldn't be too far behind.
Marshon Lattimore ramps up workload at Commanders' practice
The four-time Pro Bowler was listed as a full participant, which is significant. Lattimore went through drills with the rest of his teammates according to reports and got a decent workload for the first time in weeks. This is the clearest sign yet that he'll suit up at Raymond James Stadium.
These games are exactly why the Commanders made an aggressive trade for Lattimore before the deadline. General manager Adam Peters knew this team had a shot to propel themselves sooner than expected. This was his boldest move by a considerable margin. Now, they expect him to deliver.
There will be no half-measures with Lattimore. If the former Ohio State standout gets the all-clear to participate, he's going to start. And make no mistake, there's only one man he'll be gunning for on the opposite side of the field.
Keeping an eye on how Lattimore's body responds to increased demands. Considering Friday's session will be nothing more than a relaxed walk-through before the team's travels, there's a good chance the defensive back might not be on the final injury report at all.
The Buccaneers will be preparing for the fact Lattimore is going to be on the field and ready to compete with Evans from the first whistle. It's a mouth-watering prospect that adds another layer of intrigue to this fascinating Wild Card battle in the Sunday Night Football primetime spotlight.
Nothing has been confirmed for definite as yet. But the signs couldn't be more encouraging where Lattimore's hamstring issue is concerned.
