Benjamin St-Juste said what every Commanders fan feels about Marshon Lattimore return

There was an enormous sense of excitement on Wednesday as standout cornerback Marshon Lattimore took to the practice field for the first time since his high-profile trade. This is a timely boost for the struggling Washington Commanders, who are in the midst of a three-game losing slump at the worst possible moment.

The Commanders took their time with Lattimore. He suffered a hamstring issue on the New Orleans Saints that needed the correct rehabilitation. Although it's been frustrating for fans, the coaching staff were right to be ultra-cautious to avoid further complications down the line.

Head coach Dan Quinn revealed last week that Lattimore was nearing a return. Last weekend's embarrassing loss to the Dallas Cowboys came too soon. If everything checks out in the coming days and there are no lingering issues, the former first-round pick out of Ohio State could make his long-awaited debut against the Tennessee Titans at Northwest Stadium.

Commanders thrilled to welcome Marshon Lattimore back from injury

This is going to be a major boost for everyone involved. Something recognized by fellow cornerback Benjamin St-Juste, who's hoping Lattimore's introduction can inspire a turnaround in fortunes to get Washington's postseason quest back on track.

"It's really, really good honestly. Didn't really have a timetable at first when he first got here on when he's going to come back, but [it's great] to see him making a lot of progress, and it looks like he's about to go on the field with us. That's all we need, especially right now as we're getting to that last stretch of the season, we need every piece. Offense, defense, and special teams coming together, and go on a nice run. So good to have him back."

- Benjamin St-Juste

St-Juste said what every Commanders fan was thinking.

They've been desperate to see Lattimore take the field and help a secondary that remains inconsistent. Expecting miracles right away would be foolish, but having a legitimate shutdown presence capable of locking up the opposition's most prolific receiving threat is only going to help their cause.

Ironically, this could be at the expense of St-Juste.

The Minnesota product is starting to lose the good graces of defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. He was on the field for a season-low 58 percent of snaps against the Cowboys. Lattimore's pending return could decrease this further when push comes to shove.

That shouldn't bother the Commanders too much. The more options they have at the cornerback position, the better their chances will be.

Lattimore represents an instant upgrade on everybody else. Mike Sainristil is showing rookie promise and Noah Igbinoghene holding his own aside from a few lapses. Things could start progressing more encouragingly if the pass rush meets their end of the bargain.

The Commanders wouldn't have made a bold trade for Lattimore if they didn't think he could be a big missing piece of the puzzle. Washington looks some way off from challenging the NFL's elite right now, but the four-time Pro Bowler gets them a little closer.

Hopefully, Lattimore comes out of practice fine this week and can contribute in some capacity versus the Titans. Something that should give everyone associated with the Commanders a huge lift when they need it most.

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