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.
Buccaneers vs. Commanders Game Preview
- Location: Tampa, Raymond James Stadium
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Channel: NBC/Peacock
The Commanders finished the season with the sixth-lowest turnover rate in the league, which puts the offense in a position to succeed as often as any. This fuels their fourth-place ranking in points per drive.
Jayden Daniels is already one of the elite dual-threat quarterbacks after one season. His scrambling has led to a ridiculous 56.0 EPA, while no other QB has more than 35.7 EPA on scrambles this year.
The Buccaneers had to sweat it out, but they got everything they could have hoped for in Week 18. The Bucs clinched the NFC South and got Evans his record-tying 11th straight 1,000-yard receiving season.
The offense certainly earned the right to play postseason football. Baker Mayfield had a career year, joining Tom Brady as the only two players in franchise history with 40 passing touchdowns in a season. That allowed Tampa to post a top-five ranking in both EPA per rush and pass success rate.
On the season as a whole, the Commanders’ offensive line has done a good job in pass protection, given just how long Daniels holds the ball (3.01 seconds; seventh). Whether it’s in the face of the blitz or not, Daniels is in the top 10 for both in terms of time to throw (or be sacked).
The Buccaneers’ offensive line has undeniably been one of the most improved units in the NFL this season. They have been the NFL’s second-best unit over the past four weeks, including three games graded as B- or above.
Tampa Bay’s pressure rate (24.4%) is the lowest in the league, and they have impressive numbers whether facing the blitz or not.
The Commanders were a below-average defense for most of the season, which their final Defense+ ranking reflects (17th overall, Grade: C). Ultimately, Washington’s performance was largely fairly consistent based on their level of competition.
For the season, the Commanders ranked 24th in defensive EPA per dropback, the third-lowest among the 14 playoff teams.
Quietly, the Buccaneers defense has improved since returning from their bye in Week 12. A soft schedule helped, but the Bucs rank third in EPA per play, first in third-down defense, and fourth in red-zone defense over that span.
A Wild Card matchup against the likely Offensive Rookie of the Year will be a bigger test. However, the Bucs did hand Daniels and Co. a convincing defeat in Week 1.
