The Washington Commanders are looking to clinch their first playoff appearance since the 2020 anomaly season, but they will be short-handed against the Falcons.
The Commanders (10-5) will be without five players for Sunday night’s home game against the Falcons (8-7), which will be broadcast nationally.
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore is no surprise to be out for the Falcons game. He has already missed games against the Eagles, Cowboys, and Titans. Then, following another week (bye), he played against the Saints and was injured again last week against the Eagles. Dan Quinn confirmed Friday that the same injury was recurring again for Lattimore.
Emmanuel Forbes, a first-round 2023 Ron Rivera draft pick, has already been released this season and picked up by the Rams. So, the Commanders will need Benjamin St-Juste and/or Mike Davis to step up and play admirably on Sunday.
Washington also ruled out RT Andrew Wylie, WR Dyami Brown, LB Jordan Magee and S Tyler Owens. Swing tackle Cornelius Lucas will most likely replace Wylie. Brown’s absence could result in K.J. Osborn being activated for the first time.
During his weekly Friday press conference, Quinn initially chose not to rule out the quartet of players and would meet later in the day with Commanders’ general manager Adam Peters before making any of these declarations official.
Washington can clinch a playoff spot with a win over the Falcons or a Buccaneers loss to the Panthers on Sunday. They last made the playoffs in 2020, though they were not a winning team, finishing 7-9 in a horrible year for the NFC East teams.
