Commanders' CB Marshon Lattimore's status unknown for Sunday's game against Steelers
Since Marshon Lattimore became a Washington Commander Tuesday afternoon by way of the NFL trade deadline, it didn't take long for people to start asking how soon he can suit up for the Burgundy and Gold.
Lattimore, who came to Washington from the New Orleans Saints, was present at Wednesday and Thursday's practices in Ashburn, Va. but has yet to participate. The four-time Pro-Bowler is learning the defensive playbook while also nursing a hamstring injury.
Speaking with the media prior to practice on Thursday, defensive coordinator Joe Whitt, Jr. said he is unsure when Lattimore will see his first action as a Commander but insisted it will be as soon as he's healthy.
"He's a dog," Whitt said. "We want to play an aggressive style of ball, and that's what he is," Whitt said. "He's never going to back off. That's what I really like, and I think that's what we'll add to that room where we do have some young players that haven't necessarily been in some of those hard battles. He's battle-tested."
Whitt added the other players in the locker room are ecstatic to have him on board.
"I didn't know if I was going to see some guys with their heads down because you bring in a talent like this and some of the guys might say 'well, I'm going to loss opportunity,'" Whitt said. "Nobody is acting that way and that's a credit to DQ (Dan Quinn) and AP (Adam Peters) and the brotherhood and the culture that's being set here."
"Just having a playmaker back there, a guy that's known to make plays in the NFL and has done some great things for all his other teams, so just to have him on our team now is nice," said defensive lineman Daron Payne.
Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury offered perspective on how play calls change when you have a cornerback like Lattimore to worry about in a secondary.
"It's huge. Most of the time you like to see them as x's and o's but there's those certain players that you have to know who they are and scheme around them, and he's one of those guys," Kingsbury said.
The Commanders face the Pittsburg Steelers on Sunday, Nov. 10 at Northwest Stadium.
